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Bong Go’s help sought in regularization of PAO workers

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

February 7, 2019, 5:14 pm

MANILA -- Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta has sought the assistance of former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go in the hopes of strengthening PAO and regularizing its contract of service workers.

"He vowed to help us during our talk," Acosta said in an interview on the sidelines of the 4th National Convention for Rank and File Employees of PAO on Wednesday.

"We want to reduce the Contract of Service personnel in PAO, so I'm thinking that these workers should be given plantilla positions, maybe at least give them Salary Grade 1, 2, or 3," she added.

Salary Grades 1 to 3 are pay grades, which do not require certificate of eligibility.

According to Acosta, President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved the addition of 397 lawyers to PAO, but without regular staff.

"We want to have plantilla staff. SAP Go assured to relay our concern," she said.

During the convention, Go also promoted the government's Malasakit Centers to PAO workers who may need immediate health care assistance.

"These Malasakit Centers are open to the public. It serves as a one-stop shop where different agencies can chip in if you still have balances in medical bills," he told attendees.

Malasakit Centers are satellite offices, located in primary public hospitals in a region, where government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are in put one place.

The government has already established more than 20 Malasakit Centers nationwide, including the one at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. (PNA)

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