Silver lining in ‘imbecile’
Sometimes God gives us problems because we are the solution. By now anyone who’s on Facebook has probably read up on the issue where a Lady Lawyer at the Bureau of Customs ended up calling the Speaker of the House of Representatives an “imbecile.” The details and more are all over Facebook and been written about extensively so I will dispense with repeating the story. HOWEVER….
The controversy may actually be the silver lining for thousands of government employees and officials because the “imbecile” issue revolves around a Bureau of Customs employee who sought and got the endorsement of Speaker Bebot Alvarez in order to get a “permanent item” at the Bureau of Customs. The employee has reportedly been in an “acting” capacity for some time so he decided to seek out the Speaker’s endorsement. Unfortunately everything went to hell after that and the sad part of it all is that EVERYONE is focused on everything except the fact that it represents thousands of government employees and officers who hold office or positions in an “acting” or “OIC” capacity. But not all is lost because Speaker Alvarez can still salvage the situation or turn it around for the greater good.
The long held notion is that people use “Padrinos” simply to get unmerited promotion or positions in government. But very few people are aware of the fact that on many occasions using a “Padrino” may be your only chance of getting a deserved promotion especially for hundreds of employees at the DepEd, DOTr, etc.
What is ironic about it all is that many people holding “acting” positions or “Officer In Charge” have held those jobs for anywhere between 18 months to 5 years, their long tour of duty in an acting capacity shows that they are delivering the requirement and expectations of the job in spite of the fact that they are paid a much lower salary grade. The presumption is that “OICs” and officials in an “acting” capacity are not “senior” enough or lack requirements and are therefore “Not Qualified” for the permanent position. They are not necessarily incompetent but simply can’t be given the promotions because of technical requirements or stupid ass policies that prevent them from getting their prequalification.
So why do we even use them as temps or temporary postings and keep them there for years? Generally because there’s no one else or because government follows the chain of seniority but does not institute mandatory succession planning and barely prepares senior officers for advancement.
Just so everybody knows, The Development Academy of the Philippines where I lecture, regularly invites government agencies to nominate candidates for their Senior and Middle Management Development training programs that really add competence and value to government executives and help in their promotion BUT the usual reason for not sending candidates is that they don’t have enough people to man their offices. Ironically a Congressman is pushing for a bill to cut the fat from government by reducing employees and redundant positions or agencies.
More and more government employees are now vocal about the very limited opportunities for promotion made worse by thousands of political appointees who show up every time there is a new President or after every three years when new Senators and Congressmen are elected. As I’ve written time and again, these political appointees, many of whom don’t really need a job or can stay in the private sector end up stealing jobs or promotions from those who have been slaving away for years.
Many agency heads, OICs and officials in “Acting” capacities are also complaining about the excessive requirements that are almost impossible to achieve because they cannot get time off to undergo training, schooling or certification for promotion because they have to run offices as the “Panakip butas” or standin. Then there is the imbecilic shelf lives or expiration dates on training certificates, expiry dates on government clearances from the Ombudsman and NBI, as well as exams being given only once or twice a year and only in Metro Manila so those in the provinces have to spend a small fortune, take a leave without pay to take exams they never even got any tutorial or training for. To top it all the decision to roll out promotions or permanent items are often decided upon only by head of agencies who are often political appointees themselves or cabinet secretaries who are far removed from the reality and flow of Human Resource Management.
The question is: What do we do? First of all, look deeper into the problem. Some may say that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was being onion skinned or puffed being the Speaker of the House, but all that is momentary and clearly GOD brought a problem to him concerning OICs and “Acting.” Unfortunately, miscommunication and lack of diplomacy and restraint on both sides was the devil’s weapon to block them from recognizing the problem and working together on the solution. The feisty Lady Lawyer has found support and momentary fame for her righteous indignation but in time she will come to realize as we all do, that all who serve in government even in the private sector must observe restraint and wisdom or at least respect the office if not the occupant.
Perhaps it is about time that Congress and Malacañang establish an innovative concept of having a Department of Human Resource for all employees of government that will consolidate, develop and address training, promotions and benefits for all national government employees. Being the biggest employer in the land it only makes sense to consolidate all related matters under one roof or authority so that no one falls in between the cracks or will ever have to run to a Mayor, Governor, Congressman or Cabinet Secretary. Let’s raise up Professionals in government by treating ALL of them professionally, not politically, not emotionally. God Bless Us All.
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