Airport office: ‘Positive measures’ undertaken to address CNA issues

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Transportation Security (OTS) on Tuesday assured airport personnel it is taking “positive measures” to clear up issues surrounding workers’ incentives and bonuses.

This developed after “supposed protests” of airport Security Screening Officers (SSOs) nationwide over undelivered perks under their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).

OTS Administrator Usec. Arturo Evangelista said: “OTS management has never been remised (sic) in its duty to provide its personnel with its rightful claim, most especially if it will promote and enhance the productivity of its workers. But we cannot do it outside the law. It shall always be within the bounds of constitution and the law.”

He then vowed to exert “extra efforts” to duly recognize and promote “qualified and high performing personnel who are currently on job order status.”

According to OTS, certain incentives and bonuses under their CNA “did not materialize for 2018 due to the hiring of additional airport SSOs under job order status to satisfy the manning requirements of each security screening checkpoint.”

It said “salaries of job order personnel are sourced from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allotment where the supposed CNA will come from.”

On the other hand, OTS explained, “requirements for the 2017 were not met due to excessive funds allotted by the Department and Budget Management (DBM) for the OTS Mid-year and Year-End Bonuses which should only amount to P23M.”

OTS noted “DBM has allotted P279M for OTS bonuses, which cannot be used for any other purpose than Personnel Services account.”

“OTS continues to adopt positive measures, by holding discussions to clarify any issue surrounding incentives and bonuses particularly the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), which is funded through the agency’s savings from maintenance expenditure items; and Performance Based Bonus (PBB), expected to be given to regular and contractual employees of the OTS in the first quarter of 2019,” it said in a statement posted Tuesday on Facebook.

“These financial incentives and rewards granted to government agencies and personnel are just additional bonuses on top of the regular bonuses received by government workers, provided that it has complied (with) all the requirements set by certain issuances and memorandum,” it added. Consuelo Marquez, INQUIRER.net  /kga

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