Government employees affected by recent typhoons and intense southwest monsoon rains can now take a five-day Special Emergency Leave (SEL) without touching their regular leave credits, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced.
In a statement released over the weekend, the CSC clarified that employees who live or work in areas officially declared under a state of calamity may use the leave within 30 days from the onset of the disaster. The leave can be availed either on consecutive days or spread out, depending on the situation.
The policy is anchored on Memorandum Circulars 2 and 16, which permit such emergency leaves during natural disasters, as long as there is a formal declaration of a state of calamity by either the President or local government units (LGUs).
For locations not officially declared under a state of calamity but still heavily impacted, the CSC allows agency heads to grant the SEL based on verified circumstances and clear internal guidelines.
“Agency heads may also consider extending the special leaves beyond five days if there is valid justification and supporting documentation,” the commission said.
Covered disasters include typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other events that result in environmental, human, or financial losses.
As of July 25, over 30 LGUs have declared a state of calamity due to monsoon rains worsened by Tropical Storms Dante, Emong, and Crising.
