SC allows 5-day leave for judiciary workers hit by Taal eruption

MANILA, Philippines—Employees of the judiciary branch of the government affected by the Taal Volcano eruption may avail of a special five-day emergency leave.

In a memorandum circular released Wednesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said all employees of the judiciary affected by the recent volcanic eruption of Taal Volcano are entitled to the 5-day calamity leave starting Monday, Jan. 13, in accordance to Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 2, series of 2012.

Peralta said the calamity leave could be used for five straight working days or on a staggered basis and should not be deducted from an employee’s leave credits.

The Special Emergency Leave may be availed of by judiciary employees affected by the calamity within 30 days from Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 for the purpose of any of the following: to alleviate their plight, to urgently repair and clean-up their damaged household, seek medical treatment, and care of immediate family members affected by the volcanic eruption.

Taal Volcano, which straddles in the province of Batangas, is currently under Alert Level 4, which means that a violent eruption may happen within hours or days.

More than 30,000 residents from Batangas and Cavite have been evacuated after the volcano, the second most active in the country after Mount Mayon, spewed giant ash column on Sunday afternoon.

/atm