TACLOBAN CITY – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) voided a memorandum order issued by Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong reassigning eight hospital workers saying the act was in violation of the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers(RA 7305). The CSC on its April 16, 2014 ruling, said that Gov. Ong erred in his decision transferring the eight health workers from their present places of assignment as he did not stated in his order specific cause of the transfer. Ordered transferred by Ong were Estelita Balios, a nursing attendant from his present assignment of San Vicente District Hospital to Catubig District Hospital; Jessie Garcia, a utility worker from Biri District Hospital to Gamay District Hospital; Amalia Pastorfide, a laundry worker from San Antonio District Hospital to Catubig District Hospital; Myrna Tan, a nurse from San Antonio District Hospital to Gamay District Hospital; Neil de la Cruz, a nurse, from San Antonio District Hospital to Catubig District Hospital; Carol Cepria, a utility worker, from San Antonio District Hospital to Gamay District Hospital and Neil Toleran, a store keeper, from San Antonio District Hospital to Catubig District Hospital. The memorandum order directing the eight of their transfer was made by Ong on July 10, 2013, or just a month after he assumed the post as governor of Northern Samar. Reached for his side, Ong, through his provincial legal officer Rosa Leah Estudillo, declined to be interviewed. The eight affected health workers appealed Ong’s order before the CSC-Manila on July 16, 2013. In his order, Ong cited in the “exigency of service and for effective, efficient and economical governance,” as reason for the transfer. But the CSC, in a unanimous decision, voided the order of Ong and asked him to “immediately restore” all the eight displaced workers to their original places of assignments. “It is not enough that the notice, or the order in this regard, plainly inform that the health workers are reassigned without indicating the reasons for reassignment. It would be unfair to the worker reassigned if this obligation is imposed on him/her as well. Especially in unconsented transfers being an additional burden to the affected employee,” the CSC on its decision said. The decision was signed by CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III and Commissioners Nieves Osorio, Dolores Bonifacio and Robert Martinez. The commission also said that the transfer of the employees to other places of assignment would cause an additional expense like they have to rent a boarding house or an additional cause for their transportation cost. The affected workers receive salaries ranging from P15, 900 to P2, 950. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
