DAGUPAN CITY (PIA)—Permanent government employees directly affected by natural calamities during this typhoon and southwest monsoon (habagat) season automatically qualify for the five-day “special emergency leave” (SEL), according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
This privilege is enclosed in CSC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2 s. of 2012, supplemented by CSC MC No. 16 s. 2012, emphasizing that SEL is designed to allow workers to address personal emergencies resulting from typhoons, floods, and other similar events while ensuring job security.
CSC senior human resource specialist for Western Pangasinan Field Office Romel Rivera said this includes evacuating from affected areas, repairing damaged homes, or caring for affected family members.
He said that government employees may apply for SEL immediately or within 30 days after a state of calamity is declared in their area.
“Ang mga empleyado natin na apektado ng kalamidad, lalo na ngayong panahon ng bagyo, na hindi makakapag-report nang pisikal sa kanilang opisina ay maaari silang gumamit ng SEL,” said Rivera.
(Government employees affected by the calamity, especially during this typhoon season, who cannot report physically to their office may use SEL.)
He said that SEL can be applied for five consecutive working days or on a staggered basis, and their absence from work would not be deducted from the employee’s leave credits.
He added that unused SEL cannot be carried over to the following year, accumulated, or converted into regular leave credits or cash equivalents.
To enjoy the SEL grant, the employee must present relevant documentation, including proof of residence based on the latest available records, a medical certificate for themselves or their family stating they suffered illness or disease due to the calamity, proof of unavailable public transportation, and evidence of road closures affecting travel to the office. (AMB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
