MEMORANDUM

TO                   :           All DA-CO Division Chiefs and Service Representatives

FROM             :           The Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Vice Chairperson of
                                    the DA-CO Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board
                                    (HRMPSB)

DATE              :           May 12, 2022

SUBJECT         :          DISCONTINUANCE OF THE HRMPSB PANEL INTERVIEWS AND
                                   DELIBERATIONS OF THE VACANT POSITIONS IN DA-CENTRAL
                                   OFFICE POSTED ON NOVEMBER 16 TO 26, 2021

On November 16, 2021, the Department of Agriculture – Central Office posted a list of its vacancies in compliance with Republic Act No. 7041 (Publication Law) in the CSC Bulletin of Vacant Positions, DA-CO Bulletin Boards, social media, and the DA official website.

As of March 24, 2022, a total of twenty-four (24) individuals have been appointed to fill some of the said vacancies. However, due to the following prohibitions, the DA-CO Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (HRMPSB) was constrained to discontinue processing of the said vacancies:

1. Commission on Elections Resolution No. 10695 Wherein the transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service was prohibited starting from January 9, 2022 to June 8, 2022 and subsequently, the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation or filling up of new positions; promotion or giving of salary increases, remuneration or privilege was also prohibited from March 25, 2022 to May 8, 2022.

1. CSC Memorandum Circular No. 14, series of 2018 or Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, Revised July 2018 Wherein Section 113 states that “all appointments issued after a presidential election up to June 30 by an appointive appointing officer/authority coterminous with the President shall be disapproved/invalidated, unless all the requisites as provided in Section 112 hereof relative to their issuance are met.” (emphasis supplied). Section 112 of the same issuance indicated the following as the requisites.
   • The appointee meets the approved minimum qualification standards or qualification standards required under special law, if any, for the position to which he/she was appointed;
   • The appointee has undergone the Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (HRMPSB) screening prior to the election ban. In this case, the appointing officer/authority or agency shall submit the minutes of the HRMPSB meetings and the evaluation report of the applicants;
   • There is an urgent need for the issuance of the appointment/s so as not to prejudice public service or endanger public safety; and
   • Civil Service Law, rules and regulations and special laws, if any, on the issuance of appointments are followed.

Based on the Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 020828 dated June 17, 2002, an appointment that was vacated and published three (3) or more months after it was vacated is not considered as urgent, and such is the case of the DA-CO vacancies.

Thus, the HRMPSB panel interviews and deliberations, and subsequent appointments or other related actions will be continued or decided upon after the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

For your guidance.

ATTY. JANE C. BACAYO

Download the PDF file here.