Local government unit treasurers to undergo professional exams, DoF says
THE government said it will move towards raising the standard of local government treasurers by making them pass certification exams.
In a statement, the Department of Finance (DoF) said that Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III signed a memorandum of agreement with the Civil Service Commission ( CSC) to implement the Standardized Examination and Assessment for Local Treasury Service (SEAL) for local treasury service under the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).
This is a three-level certification program to professionalize and provide capacity development for local government treasurers.
These include tactical- operational competencies for Level 1 certification, strategic-managerial competencies for Level 2 certification, and leading- forinnovation competencies for Level 3.
The measure is aimed to “instill a culture of excellence, integrity and proficiency for modern local treasury service.”
“Local treasurers should not only safeguard local finance, but they should make revenues grow. At all times, they must have the right skills, updated competencies and ethical orientation to perform their jobs well,” Mr. Dominguez was quoted in a statement as saying.
“I have directed the BLGF to lead this program across all LGUs ( local government units), and we will invest in quality and effective training for local treasury operations, through the Philippine Tax Academy that we are now setting up. We must bridge the identified and emerging competency gaps in local finance in these modern times,” he added.
The program is outlined in Department Order No. 056-2016 signed by Mr. Dominguez in October 2016.
In CSC Resolution No. 1701330 dated Sept. 20, 2017, the first and second levels of competency exams, the Basic Competency for Local Treasury Examination (BCLTE) and the Intermediate Competency for Local Treasury Examination (ICLTE), respectively will start on Nov. 26 nationwide.
The resolution indicated that the BCLTE will be conducted this year, twice in 2018 and once every year thereafter.
The ICLTE on the other hand, will be held annually. Successful candidates will be eligible for appointment to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class treasurer positions.
“As a promotional exam, the ICLTE may also be applicable for positions under the Financial Services in the civil service which do not require the practice of profession and are not covered by Bar/ Board or Special Laws, subject to meeting all the qualification requirements of the positions,” the DoF said.
As for the Level 3 certification, or the Advance Competency for Local Treasury Examination (ACLTE), it will be piloted on 2018.
This would “certify an individual’s competencies to lead and innovate local treasury operations, which is appropriate for Special, first class and highly urbanized cities, and first income-class provinces.
The second level certification program will include subjects such as: Data Analytics for Local Treasury, Strategic Mobilization of Local Resources, Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability, Principles of Risk Management Internal Control System, and Internal Audit for Local Treasury, and fundamentals of Program/Project Development, Management, and Feasibility Assessment.
The third level includes the following subjects: Leading Change in Organizations, Continuous Improvement and Innovations at Work-Productivity and Quality, Advanced Data Analytics, Advanced Risk Management and Internal Control System for Local Treasury, Information Management, Communication Strategies and Social Marketing, Public Policy Review and Development, and Evolving Practices on Public Financial Management. —