ILOILO CITY -- Iloilo’s provincial government employees will soon learn who would be exempted from the flag-raising ceremony at the capitol grounds here every Monday.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. announced on Monday that he will come up with an executive order that will identify those who are obliged and who are exempted from attending the ceremony. Sanctions for being absent will also be known.
Defensor said several employees, particularly hospital and utility workers, cannot be forced to attend the ceremony.
“We must have a monthly publication posting of those who did not attend, unless you are on official business, you are sick, on leave, then you should not be included on the list,” he added.
Defensor reiterated the importance of attending the flag-raising ceremony.
“It reminds you how important your job is. It reminds you of your relation and relevance to the government as a public servant and it reminds you of your duties and responsibilities as government officials and government employees,” he pointed out.
Last week, the governor warned the more or less 2,000 employees of the provincial government to avoid being absent during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, saying that a bulletin board will be put up where the names of absentees would be posted.
His statement came after he noticed that a number of employees are consistently absent during the ceremony.
Last year, Defensor signed a memorandum directing all department heads and employees to attend the flag-raising ceremony in compliance with Republic Act No. 8491, or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, and with Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 19, series of 2012. (PNA)
