Ombudsman warns against drinking binges at team-building outings

MANILA, Philippines—Team-building events of government agencies are for staff development, not for bingeing on alcohol, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Office of the Ombudsman has called on the public to report any activity during these team-building outings that does not contribute to staff development or conform to the objectives of the event, such as drinking binges.

Violators would be slapped with administrative charges, it said in a statement.

Team-building activities of government agencies are allowed under their human resource development programs, and are covered by regulations, according to lawyer Christian Molina of the Civil Service Commission.

Molina recently spoke at the radio program of the Office of the Ombudsman aired over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Team-building activities are usually held in the summer, and in out-of-town resorts. These are usually intended to strengthen relations, improve communication, and foster goodwill among an agency’s employees.

According to Molina, team-building events should have a human resource program design, and must have objectives and a schedule of activities.

The budget for these activities is provided for under the training and scholarship component of an agency’s maintenance and other operating expenses.

This is regulated by the Department of Budget and Management, while the expenses are scrutinized by the Commission on Audit, he said.

He added that the procurement of food and the venue for the event must be in accordance with law, while the use of vehicles must have the proper documentation.