Sponsorship Speech on SB 3554 (Act Granting Civil Service Eligibility to Casual/Contractual Govt Employees)

Hon. Panfilo M. Lacson

Acting Chairman, Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization

December 16, 2009

Mr. President,

It is my honor to sponsor before this august chamber Senate Bill No. 3554 under Committee Report No. 775, entitled “An Act Granting Civil Service Eligibility to Government employees, Under Certain Conditions, whose Status of Appointment is either Casual or Contractual and Who have Rendered a Total of Five Years of Efficient Service.”

According to the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government employees or Courage, casual or contractual employees comprise about 8% of the total bureaucracy. Based on statistics gathered by Courage as of 2008, we have 99,749 casual employees and 22,345 contractual employees nationwide. A great number of them have judiciously served the people with efficiency, dedication and to the best of their abilities. It is unfortunate that such exemplary demeanor has not resulted in job security despite their individual years of government service.

Mr. President, it is an established norm that the state dutifully rewards dedicated public service in every which way and form, and Senate Bill No. 3554 precisely aims this by granting civil service eligibility to deserving employees of the government who have rendered at least five years of continuous service. This measure shall cover both casual and contractual employees in the government, whether they occupy positions in the first or second level. However, in order to promote the merit system and maintain professionalism in the government, the employees covered by this bill cannot expect any career advancement or promotion unless they obtain the appropriate eligibility requirements for the said position.

Your honors, this is not the first time that civil service eligibility has been accorded to government employees through legislative fiat. Republic Act No. 6850 or better known as the Rasul Law was passed by Congress in 1990. This law also bestowed civil service eligibility to provisional or temporary government employees who have worked in the government for at least seven years. If we had found wisdom in granting civil service eligibility to that group of employees, the argument for granting the same privilege to our casual and contractual government employees has the equivalent legitimacy.

My distinguished colleagues, I would like to especially mention the efforts of the distinguished minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in painstakingly pushing for the passage of this measure. This representation has built a career based on the idea of a level playing field, that ambition and hard work are the ultimate tools for success and fulfillment. As individuals who possess more legal and legislative wherewithal than most of our country’s bureaucracy, I urge you distinguished colleagues to perform our responsibilities as equalizers and pass this legislative measure to give due credit to our casual and contractual employees.

Thank you Mr. President.

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Sponsorship Speech on SB 3498 (The Psychology Regulation Act)

Hon. Panfilo M. Lacson

Acting Chairman, Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization

December 1, 2009

Mr. President,

I have the honor of sponsoring Senate Bill no. 3498 under Committee Report No. 722, entitled “An Act to Regulate the Practice of Psychology, Creating for this Purpose a Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes.”

The practice of psychology consists of the delivery of psychological services that involve the application of psychological principles and procedures for the purpose of describing, understanding, predicting and influencing the behavior of individuals or groups, in order to assist in the attainment of optimal human growth and functioning. For purposes of this measure, the delivery of psychological services includes the following: psychological interventions, psychological assessment, and lastly, psychological programs.

The State recognizes the legitimacy of psychological services, as evidenced by the presence of psychologists in many government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, and in various government hospitals and military organizations. The existence of numerous state-administered tests, like the neuropsychiatric tests for military and police recruits and for overseas contract workers, exemplifies the significance of the role of psychologists in our society. Moreover, media reports also indicate increasing incidences of situations requiring psychological interventions, such as natural and man-made calamities, adjustment problems in OFW families, and drug-related problems, among others.

In recent years, there have been several policy developments recognizing the need for psychological services, yet the State has failed to define who is legally qualified and competent to deliver such services. Despite the application and use of psychology in our every day lives, no law exists to regulate the practice. It is precisely this type of environment that creates opportunities for abuse and exploitation.

The current demand for psychological services in the country equally calls for the proper regulation of the profession in order to protect the public. It is deplorable that such a highly specialized field of medicine remains unregulated by the government especially considering its varied specializations and the diverse array of clients it caters to. To allow the practice of psychology to remain unbound by consolidated rules is detrimental, and in some situations even life-threatening to the Filipinos. The State as the general overseer of public affairs has to ensure that only those who are qualified, competent, and morally upright are allowed to practice this profession.

Senate Bill No. 3498 seeks to address the vacuum existing between our present state policies and the current demands of psychology, both as a profession and as a state service, by providing for the following important provisions:

* Creating a regulatory board overseeing the management and practice of psychology and psychometrics;

* Defining the scope and nature of psychology and psychometrics in the country;

* Setting the standards for administering licensure examinations and other educational standards in practicing the profession;

* Granting the protection of privileged communication for any communication or information disclosed and/or acquired in the course of giving psychological services; and

* Imposition of penalties for violators of this act.

The essence of this proposed measure lies in the professionalization of the practice of psychology by strengthening its requirements and by having a uniform system of regulation. The immediate approval of this act will standardize the practice, reinforce competence and credibility in the profession, and provide protection not only for the public but for the practitioners as well.

Thank you.

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Sponsorship Speech on SB 3499 (The Respiratory Therapy Bill)

Hon. Panfilo M. Lacson

Acting Chairman, Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization

December 1, 2009

Mr. President,

It is my privilege to present to this august chamber Senate Bill No. 3499 under Committee Report No. 723, entitled “An Act Regulating the Practice of Respiratory Therapy, Creating a Professional Regulatory Board of Respiratory Therapy, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.”

Respiratory therapy is an allied health specialty employed with medical direction in the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities in the cardiopulmonary system. Respiratory therapists are involved in the treatment of chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other acute multi-systemic problems due to other pathological conditions including heart attacks and stroke.

The practice of respiratory therapy in the Philippines started in the late 1970s by a group of American respiratory therapists employed by Medical Services of America, Inc. They encouraged the graduates of B.S. Medical Technology and nurses to undergo a six- month on-the-job respiratory therapy training program. This program produced the first batch of Filipino respiratory therapists. During the 1980s, the Philippine government, under the auspices of the Commission on Higher Education, recognized some educational programs under the discipline of respiratory therapy. In 1987, the B.S. in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) program was first offered in medical colleges.

The field of respiratory therapy is relevant in a country that counts acute lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia as among the top causes of morbidity with cases reaching as many as 700,000. Tuberculosis, another leading cause of morbidity, also claimed a total of 132,725 victims in 2006 alone. Given the numerous calamities that has visited the Philippines, it is expected that more cases of respiratory-related illnesses will be recorded. The prevalence of these diseases among Filipinos makes the professionalization of our respiratory therapists an imperative to ensure the safe implementation of responsible respiratory care.

Although our country was the first in Asia to offer a curriculum in respiratory therapy, we have fallen behind in terms of regulating and professionalizing this field. Twenty-five years since its introduction, the BSRT program remains to be the only four-year degree course that has not been licensed or professionalized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). As a result of this omission, our respiratory therapists are deprived of their due recognition as professionals and this has placed them in a very disadvantaged position compared to their foreign counterparts. Case in point is our RT practitioners working overseas, particularly those in the Middle East.

The employment viability of our BSRT graduates has reached tenuous levels as foreign governments require a “professional license” from the country of origin as well as international accreditation requirements for licensed respiratory care practitioners. When fully implemented, not only are the jobs of our Filipino RTs abroad at stake but our government stand to lose several millions of pesos worth of potential remittances.

The lack of a professional license has also hindered the development of this medical field and prevented RT practitioners from being globally competitive despite their innate and overt abilities. Moreover, the lack of a professional license has delegated our Filipino RTs as mere technicians instead of as professionals.

The measure i am sponsoring this afternoon seeks to address the concerns of our Filipino respiratory therapists by providing for the following:

* The creation of a professional regulatory board of respiratory therapy under the administrative supervision and control of the PRC;

* A licensure examination requirement for all applicants for registration in the practice of respiratory therapy; and

* Guidelines and regulations involving the practice of respiratory therapy in the country.

Indeed we need a sense of urgency in passing this proposed legislation to alleviate the plight of our RT practitioners both here and abroad, and to elevate their status justly. It is my hope that my fellow senators will heed the call of our Filipino respiratory therapists and assist this representation in the immediate enactment of this bill.

Thank you.

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Lacson Pushes P1.16-B Realignment of ARMM Budget to Social Services, Overdue Pension Payments

After getting a glimpse of alleged abuses and corruption by some members of the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson pushed Friday to re-channel some P1.16 billion from the budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for 2010.

Lacson proposed that P1 billion for ARMM infrastructure projects and P160 million in special purpose funds of the ARMM governor be redirected to other items in the budget.

“Under the special provisions of ARMM’s proposed budget, (the) appropriation of infrastructure projects (can) only be released and utilized pursuant to enactment of a Public Works Act by the regional assembly. Since the ARMM legislative assembly has not enacted a Public Works Act and there is no listing of projects and construction to be funded by P1 billion as proposed, then we might as well disburse the P1 billion, part of which should be given to the DSWD,” Lacson said at the budget hearing for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

"We might as well distribute the amount to different agencies in the national government," he added.

Sen. Miriam Santiago, who was sponsoring the DSWD’s budget for 2010, said she “completely agreed” with the proposal to re-channel part of ARMM’s budget if the ARMM could not implement its projects. “Those previous budgetary appropriations should be disbursed for other purposes that we know will actually be implemented,” she said.

Lacson recommended that the amount go to priority projects of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and to fund the overdue pensions of retired policemen and firefighters.

In proposing funds for the pension of retired policemen and firefighters, Lacson had lamented some retired firefighters had already died waiting in vain for their much-needed pensions up to now. In late 2004, some 650 retired firefighters sought Lacson’s help in getting benefits and pensions that have been denied them due to a perennial lack of funds.

“Since what we witnessed in Maguindanao, we might as well slash the special purpose fund intended for the Office of the Governor. Please consider this. The national government is subsidizing something like 98% of budget of ARMM,” he said.

Lacson said that while ARMM allocated 55% of its budget to education, the COA report still showed as many as three pupils are sharing one seat. “So nothing much is really spent for education despite their being priority in ARMM,” he said.

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Lacson to DILG: Account for P568.1-M for Non-Working '117' Call Centers

Bewailing that many of them have been denied the benefits they earned after years of duty, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson made a fresh appeal Tuesday for the release of funds for the pension of retired policemen and firefighters.

Lacson made the appeal during his interpellation of the proposed 2010 budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government, which supervises the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.

“We can only hope during period of amendments we can put in some amount to address the concerns of these retired policemen and firefighters,” Lacson said.

He lamented some of retired firefighters had already died waiting in vain for their much-needed pensions up to now.

Lacson found an ally in fellow Cavalier Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who said the issue is “close to our hearts.”

“This is a matter your committee will pursue beyond deliberations of the budget,” Honasan assured Lacson.

In late 2004, some 650 retired firefighters sought Lacson’s help in getting benefits and pensions that have been denied them due to a perennial lack of funds.

Lacson initially succeeded in realigning some P291.43 million from from the budgets of other government agencies for the purpose.

At the time, he said most of the 650 retirees are aged between 60 and 72, and 65 of them already died while waiting for their pension to be paid.

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Lacson Makes Fresh Appeal for Retired Cops, Firemen's Pension

Bewailing that many of them have been denied the benefits they earned after years of duty, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson made a fresh appeal Tuesday for the release of funds for the pension of retired policemen and firefighters.

Lacson made the appeal during his interpellation of the proposed 2010 budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government, which supervises the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.

“We can only hope during period of amendments we can put in some amount to address the concerns of these retired policemen and firefighters,” Lacson said.

He lamented some of retired firefighters had already died waiting in vain for their much-needed pensions up to now.

Lacson found an ally in fellow Cavalier Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who said the issue is “close to our hearts.”

“This is a matter your committee will pursue beyond deliberations of the budget,” Honasan assured Lacson.

In late 2004, some 650 retired firefighters sought Lacson’s help in getting benefits and pensions that have been denied them due to a perennial lack of funds.

Lacson initially succeeded in realigning some P291.43 million from from the budgets of other government agencies for the purpose.

At the time, he said most of the 650 retirees are aged between 60 and 72, and 65 of them already died while waiting for their pension to be paid.

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