BACOLOD City — The Negros Occidental provincial government has extended the five-day wellness leave benefit approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to its job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers for the duration of their contracts.
The inclusion of JO and COS personnel in the province’s internal guidelines on wellness leave implementation is provided under Executive Order No. 26-03 issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said the provincial government has finalized the availment form and procedures in coordination with Provincial Human Resources and Management Office head Felomina Gozon.
“JO and COS employees may now start availing of the five-day wellness leave pursuant to Governor Bong Lacson’s executive order,” Diaz said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Last month, Lacson signed the renewal contracts of 1,095 JO workers and 1,076 COS employees in the province.
Wellness leave is a benefit granted to government personnel to provide time for rest, recuperation, and activities that promote overall well-being, including mental health care, stress management, and physical wellness.
Under EO 26-03, JO and COS personnel may avail themselves of the wellness leave within the calendar year during the period of their contract, without prejudice to existing rules on compensation and attendance.
Lacson said the policy underscores the provincial government’s commitment to uphold the welfare of its human resources and to implement programs that support a healthy, resilient, and efficient workforce.
He added that institutionalizing uniform internal guidelines would ensure the proper, consistent, and effective implementation of wellness leave across all provincial offices, departments, hospitals, and other units, in line with CSC rules and regulations.
In December last year, the CSC approved the grant of up to five days of wellness leave for eligible government officials and employees as part of efforts to strengthen workplace mental health strategies under Republic Act No. 11036, or the Mental Health Act.
Through Resolution No. 2501292, the CSC cited the provisions of Joint Administrative Order 2023-000 issued with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health, which identifies mental health as a priority area for workplace health promotion interventions. (PNA)
