From the Department of Budget and Management
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported that a total of P30.8 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 (VRMMC) 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).
Budget 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.”
The breakdown of positions is as follows:
| Agency | Unfilled Positions |
| A. Educational Institutions | 74,134 |
| Department of Education
Office of the Secretary Philippine High School for the Arts |
44,602
44,598 4 |
| State Universities and Colleges
|
6,865 |
| Department of Interior and Local Government
Bureau of Fire Protection Bureau of Jail Management and Penalogy Philippine National Police |
15,898
3,383 551 11,964 |
| Department of Labor and Employment
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority |
767
767 |
| Department of National Defense
National Defense College of the Philippines DND |
5,780
5 5,775 |
| Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Science High School |
102
102 |
| Other Executive Offices
Commission on Higher Education |
120
120 |
| B. Hospitals | 8,681 |
| Department of Health
Office of the Secretary |
8,375
8,375 |
| Department of National Defense
Veterans Memorial Medical Center |
306
306 |
| C. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao | 4,179 |
| TOTAL | 86,994 |
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, P16.7 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.”
Source:
Briefing Room
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines
http://www.gov.ph/2015/04/20/govt-targets-filling-up-87000-positions-in-2015/
April 20, 2015
