VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) Regional Office I enjoined the local chief executives (LCEs), human resource officers (HROs), department heads, and legal officials in this province for the first-ever joint Forum for Local Officials on Human Resource Management.

The activity was hosted by the CSC Ilocos Sur Field Office on Wednesday and Thursday, March 22-23, at the Provincial Farmer’s Livelihood Development Center in this city.

Some 131 participants took part in the two-day forum to discuss five different topics in HR management.  

Among these are Roles of Local Leaders in HR management discussed by CSC Ilocos Sur Field Office director Marina G. Cabañero, and Leading Excellence thru Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

The latter, according to CSC Ilocos regional director Hedy Jose B. Lardizabal is the flagship program of the commission.

He also said that the forum was held to talk about recent developments on human resource management.

“Many local government units are now transitioning to be fully-devolved, but there are some problems and issues affecting the creation of positions, hiring of people, compensation,” he said.

He added, “We conducted this because we wanted to have a discussion, for us to be able to help and guide them with their concerns and problems they are now or will encounter later on, [so we can] prevent the disapproval of appointments later.”

Meanwhile, Charito Sonido, the municipal agriculturist of Sinait town said that she realized through the forum that guiding and handling the staff is not the sole responsibility of the HROs but also of the LCEs, department heads like herself, and legal officials.

Cora Pineda, the President of the HRO association and the provincial human resource officer said, “This is important not only for the local officials, but also for HR practitioners. Maraming pwedeng pagtulungan, iba kasi iyong dati na magkahiwalay ang forum sa ngayon na pinagsama.”

“At least with this, we can tackle concerns and they [LCEs] can see that managing personnel and employees is not only the responsibility of the HR but it is a shared responsibility. Malaki ang pwedeng magbago sa pagtutulungan ng HR, department heads, legal officials at LCEs pagkatapos nito,” she added.

Moreover, Lawyer Ariel G. Ronquillo, CSC Assistant Commissioner for Legal graced the forum on Thursday and discussed Decisions/Jurisprudence on Appointment and other HR Actions as well as Enhancing Organizational Structure and Staffing Patterns. (JCR/MJTAB/ATV PIA Ilocos Sur)