TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 5 (PIA) -- Now that vaccination for 5-11 years old children has been opened, parents or immediate family in government service who are accompanying their children for COVID-19 vaccination can be excused from work.

In its Advisory No. 139 dated March 3, 2022, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) provided the guidance to Regional and Local Vaccine Operations Center implementing units and vaccine sites on the applicable Civil Service Commission (CSC) directives on excused absence benefits.

The guidance is also based on the CSC Directives on the Excuse/Absence Benefit under the Interim Guidelines on Absences of Government Officials and Employees Due to COVID-19 Vaccination and/or Adverse Events Following Immunization of COVID-19 Vaccine.

According to NVOC, “pursuant to Section 21, Rule XVI of the Omnibus Rules on Leave, as amended, special leave privileges are available to parents in the government service who are accompanying their children for COVID-19 vaccination.”

It said that in addition to the vacation, sick, maternity and paternity leave, officials and employees with or without existing Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), except teachers and those covered by special leave laws, are granted the special leave privileges subject to conditions stated.

They are given leave privileges for parental obligations such as attendance in school programs, Parent-Teacher Association meetings, graduation, first communion, medical needs, among others where a child of the government employee is involved.

Based on the directive, employees applying for special privilege leaves are no longer required to present proof that they are entitled to avail of such leaves, the NVOC pointed out in its advisory.

The leave privilege can be up to three days for a given year and shall be strictly observed: an employee can avail of one special privilege leave for three days or a combination of any of the leaves for a maximum of three days in a given year, the CSC said.

These special leave privileges are non-cumulative and are strictly non-convertible to cash.

The said advisory states that immediate family refers to "spouse, children, parents, unmarried brothers and sisters or any relative living under the same roof or dependent upon the employee for support.” (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)