THE HONORABLE
UNDERSECRETARY LAURO BAJA,
UNDERSECRETARY FRANKLIN EBDALIN,
UNDERSECRETARY MERLIN MAGALLONA,
DISTINGUISHED ASSISTANT SECRETARIES,
      HEADS OF OFFICES, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS,
MY CO-WORKERS IN THE DEPARTMENT,
FRIENDS:
 

Mabuhay ang Civil Service!
Mabuhay ang premier department of the Government!
Mabuhay ang DFA!
 
As we join other government agencies in commemorating  Civil  Service   Month, I am pleased to  congratulate you all for your high degree of professionalism and dedication.

I have closely observed the officers and members of the Department these last six months, and I am deeply pleased to tell you that I am very proud of you all.  Likewise, I am proud to be associated with the men and women of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Later this month, DFA will participate in a Civil Service Fair in the  Quezon City hall.  We will have a booth--with exhibits like those that you see in our lobby--to share with people the highlights of our service to the nation in the context of the Civil Service.

This occasion offers me an excellent opportunity to inform you of our latest efforts for the welfare of DFA personnel.

1. Upgrading  of  salary levels.

Exactly a week ago, i submitted a memorandum to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, recommending the upgrading of DFA salaries--in order that they may be at par with those of other government agencies.

I proposed that an FSO IV be given a salary grade equivalent to a division chief; that FSO III to CM I salary grades correspond to the equivalent higher ranks in the career executive service.

In the case of FSSOs and FSSEs, I proposed  upgrading based on  qualifications and actual responsibilities.

If the president approves my proposal, we achieve the first step of raising DFA salaries to levels where they should have been a long time ago.

The next step will be further salary  upgrading--as mandated by  Republic Act 7157--based on studies that  we are now  undertaking.

2.  Overtime rate of 125 to 150 per cent

Last Wednesday, Undersecretary Ebdalin met with OPAS, OFM, and consular officers, on the viability of a department of budget and management directive  for an additional overtime rate of 25 to 50 per cent--above the present 100 per cent--for both  regular and contractual  personnel.

There was agreement on also giving contractual personnel the 25 per cent  overtime increase  for weekdays and 50 per cent  for weekends and holidays. However, there remained the problem of viability, for contractual personnel are paid, not from the general fund,  but from the passport revolving fund.

About 4 million pesos is needed for increases.

 We decided to give priority to these increases in the use of the passport revolving fund.
 

3. Designation-upgrading of qualified contractual personnel

It was agreed in principle, also at last Wednesday’s meeting, that funding be made available from the passport revolving fund for designation-upgrading of some fifty contractual personnel.

Their monthly compensation will increase by five per cent (more or less one-thousand pesos).

3. Creation of additional permanent  items.

I have already recommended to the president the creation of additional one-hundred-five permanent personnel items.

We are also studying the creation of items to absorb some five-hundred hardworking contractual personnel who have served DFA from five to ten  years.

4. Provident fund

I am pleased to inform you that the DFA provident fund has been incorporated, and its S.E.C. certificate of incorporation—that also  provides for the inclusion of  attached DFA agencies--is forthcoming.

The next step will be the transfer of the one- million peso seed fund--through a deed of donation--to the fund’s bank account.

The DFA counterpart fund has been proposed in the department’s budget for the year two-thousand-and-two.

I expect great membership satisfaction  over  the  provident-fund benefits.

5. Housing.

The office of Undersecretary Ebdalin and OPAS have been meeting with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (H.U.D.C.C.) and the National Housing Authority (N.H.A.) on a housing program  for  DFA employees.

Having surveyed housing preferences of our personnel, we are now studying a draft memorandum of understanding  with  both  H.U.D.C.C. and  N.H.A.
 

6. Retirement fund.

Besides the provident fund, i am also asking our administration offices to study the feasibility of a retirement fund for our personnel—as well as the possibility of continuing medical insurance for our retirees.  They have given the best years of their lives to DFA, and they should have health care when they need it most.
 

My friends, we have great concerns in foreign relations—both bilateral and multilateral—as well as in our consular and assistance-to-nationals services.  Together, we are attending to them all,  with utmost professionalism, for the greatest good of our people.

But our greatest concern remains the welfare of our own men and women in the department.  If we do not have work satisfaction,  if our families are not happy,  just imagine how efficiently we can attend to our bilateral and multilateral relations!

It is my desire to optimize the benefits that are legitimately due to us.   Let us remembers that even the scriptures decree that “the worker is worthy of his hire”.

Mabuhay tayong lahat  sa  DFA!