Newly-elected AUDIO Bohol officers take oath of office

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 15 (PIA) -- The newly-elected officers of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) Bohol took their oath of office on March 11 at the Municipality of San Miguel, Bohol.

Ma. Lydia Bantugan, information officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform, was re-elected as president.

As status quo president, Bantugan aims to carry on the business of developmental information she leads another year as president of AUDIO Bohol, an organization composed of information officers of the municipalities and national government agencies (NGAs) based in the province.

San Miguel Municipal Administrator Atty. Glenn Damasing administered the oath of office to the new officers of AUDIO Bohol.

Also inducted into office are Doris Isabel Racho of Agricultural Training Institute 7 as Vice President for NGAs; John Larry Evangelista of LGU-Ubay as Vice President for LGUs; Imee Raut of LGU-Lila as Secretary; Elvie Bongosia of Philippine Information Agency as Assistant Secretary; Rosario Chatto of the Bureau of Internal Revenue as Treasurer; Emilou Gonzaga of National Commission on Indigenous People as Assistant Treasurer; and Herbert Torreon of LGU-Getafe as Auditor; Vinesse Shalome Molina of DENR as the Press Relations Officer (PRO) for the 1st District; Rojer Lindo of LGU-Tubigon as alternate PRO of the 1st District; Manuelito Item of LGU-Bien Unido as 2nd District PRO; and Julius Golosino of LGU-Alicia as the 3rd District PRO.

The Municipality of San Miguel led by Mayor Virgilio Mendez hosted the AUDIO Bohol meeting and "Bisita Opisina" held at the municipal’s Legislative Building.

Mendez, the former director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), during his welcome message reminded the information officers of their critical role amid the proliferation of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation amid the upcoming national elections.

Meanwhile, Damasing reminded the information officers that as public servants they should not be too “onion skinned” on the possibility of being subject to criticism especially in dealing with fake news, disinformation, and misinformation. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)

Private workers missing work

For NVD 4, excused says DOLE

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 14 (PIA)— Private sector employees who happened to be absent during the conduct of the Bayanihan Bakunahan last March 10-12 for their vaccination or to accompany their family member’s inoculation now have an official excuse and can claim payment for their wages even then.

      

Through Labor Advisory No 05, series of 2022, the Department of Labor and Employment ruled that pursuant to Article 5 of the Labor Code of the Philippines as amended, and in support of the government’s implementation of the National Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Vaccination days (NVD) Part 4, employees in the private sector who had their second doses of the vaccines due or have missed their second doses, when they missed work for reasons of availing of the vaccines are not considered absent.   

                                

Apart from individuals who took their absences for their vaccination, those workers in the Priority Group 2 (senior Citizens), or those in the health and economic sector who got their booster doses, and those who missed work to accompany their children for vaccination are now covered by the labor order.

According to the Labor Advisory, “employers are highly encouraged to allow their employees to avail of the vaccination or accompany their children to be vaccinated without being considered absent.”

Moreover, DOLE ruled that the concerned employees under the groups mentioned above are likewise allowed to utilize their available leave credits during the National Vaccination Days, subject to company policy or existing collective bargaining agreements granting the same.

Earlier, the DOH, citing Civil Service Commission rules, also issued a similar advisory to government workers, excusing them from work should they be scheduled for vaccination or should they be accompanying their kids for vaccination. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)