MANILA, April 20 (PNA) — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday disclosed a total of Php30.8 billion is allotted to fund 86,994 unfilled positions in government, contrary to the 190,000 positions reported in media recently.
The latter figure comprises the Staffing Summary of the 2015 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which shows the number of permanent positions per agency and the amount required for these positions. The 2015 NEP reported that there are 1,433,186 permanent positions in government, and that 86 percent (or 1,244,931) are filled while 188,255 are unfilled. However, of this amount, only 86,994 unfilled positions can be provided for based on the funding requirements of agencies for 2015.
Lodged under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), the 2015 National Budget can provide funding for unfilled positions of select agencies, which primarily covers education and healthcare. This includes the following agencies:
· Department of Education (DepEd)
· State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
· Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – also includes the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Philippine National Police
· Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
· National Defense College of the Philippines, under the Department of National Defense (DND)
· Philippine Science High School, under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
· Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
For the hiring of hospital personnel, the Department of Health (DOH) and Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) under the DND are included in the list. Meanwhile, there is also an allotted amount for funding unfilled positions in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “The Administration is committed to providing our people with job opportunities, especially during this period of robust growth, requiring the support of a skilled and able workforce. The National Government needs to employ more teachers, nurses, and other crucial personnel in order to maximize the delivery of social services.”
Of the total number of unfilled positions, more than half or 44,602 are for teaching and non-teaching personnel in DepEd. This is followed closely by agencies in charge of safety and security (BFP, BJMP, and PNP) under the DILG, and healthcare personnel in the DOH.
Meanwhile, some Php16.7 billion has been allotted for the creation of 65,204 positions, which includes various agencies such as DepEd, DOH, and DILG.
Abad said, “It’s in our best interests to fulfill the required job positions in the National Government as they serve a two-fold purpose. We give jobs in the government to Filipinos who have the appropriate work skills and we ensure that our programs are carried out by suitable personnel. In doing so, we’re able to respond to the needs of all of our countrymen.” (PNA)