When I started working in this institution, I asked if we have some sort of like a handbook.Wala raw –guided by the Civil Service Memos, SC Reso/Memo lang.

Been chided with dress code violations, been clueless with the judiciary money matters for quite a time, wasted three special leaves for not knowing they existed, and been stressed with attendance for the longest time ‘coz I did not know of the grace periods and accumulation of leave credits.After a year, I was able to attend a Seminar for New Employees. Ay, grabe, super take down talaga ako ng notes ‘coz despite being in the service for quite a time, ang dami-dami ko pa rin palang hindi alam na mga SOPs!

One thing I was majorly ignoramus about was being required of Travel Permits for International Travels.Let us just say I learned about so the hard way…and thank goodness for Uncle Ising for helping us.

Since I am very transparent, I cannot convincingly lie when an immigration officer qualifies my occupation — lawyer?Are you a government lawyer?

If answered in the affirmative, I’d better be carrying a travel permit. It does not matter if my international travel is out of my own expense, done during holidays/long weekend (and not be absent from work), and for just a short period of time.Declare to be working for the government, present a travel permit when traveling abroad…period.

Some reflections on the matter:

1. I think kasalanan ito ng mga gahamang kawani/opisyales ng gobyerno eh — yung mga nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan at tinatakbo ang pera sa ibang bansa.
2. Unfair sa mga honest government workers — imagine, hindi pwedeng “instant” mag-decide to just fly for a quick R&R outside the country!
3. With the usual government bureaucracy, kailangan ng patience kasi ang daming approving signatures pa ang kailangan for a travel na wala namang kinalaman sa trabaho!
4. Intriga may result with a travel — kasi since kailangan ng permit, na-bro-broadcast na aalis ka ng bansa.Ergo, napag-uusapang “rich” ka despite of really just availing promo air rates, cheap hotels, and planning on scrimping on food lang naman (our typical travel mode as what is important for us are photos and the fact of seeing the tourist spots we intend to visit).Oh, add pa that may expectation of giving pasalubong tuloy na pwedeng mabuo.
5. Since may permit and furnished ang admin, sa leaves, dapat i-reflect na “vacation” leave; hindi tuloy ma-utilize ang “sick leave” credits.Eh sa amin, as much as possible, we use up sick leave credits first as our lates (tardiness) are automatically credited from vacation leaves.It can happen (as it did happen with one of my officemates) na may sick leaves pa, pero since forced declared vacation due to travel permit, tapos kulang ang vacation/special leaves to cover the period na out of the country, ayun, ma-pe-penalize for absence without leave!Tama ba naman yun?!Eh ang laki ng repercussion ng absence without leave eh — may mga monetary benefits na maapektuhan.Crazy.