MASLAN,BelenT.

Re:QueryMonetizationofLeaveCredits
xx

RESOLUTIONNO.000034

BelenT.Maslan,AdministrativeOfficerIIl,CordilleraExecutiveBoard,CordilleraAdministrative
Region, Baguio City, seeks clarification regarding Section 23 of the Omnibus Rules on Leave (CSC
ResolutionNo.983142datedDecember14,1998)whichprovidesasfollows:
"Section23.Monetizationot50%ofvacation/sickleavecreditsMonetizationof
fifty percent (50%) of all the accumulated leave credits may be allowed for valid and
justifiable reasons subject to the discretion of the agency head and the availability of
funds."
Particularly,Maslanaskswhethertheaforequotedprovisionallowsanemployeetomonetizehis
sickleavecreditsifhehasnoavailablevacationleavecredits.
InCSCResolutionNo.992064(Re:Cojuangco,EleuterioS.)datedSeptember16,1999, the
Commissionresolvedthesameissueasfollows:
"Inthisregard,itisworthwhiletomentionthatanemployeemay choose when to
availvacationleaveprivileges,theonlyconditionisthatheisrequiredtofileinadvancehis
applicationforleave.Theemployeemayevenchoosenottotakeavacationandpreserve
hisvacationleavecredit.
"Itisotherwise,withrespecttosickleaves.Inthiscase,theemployeeisforcedby
thecircumstancenottoworkevenifhewantsto.Hecannotpredictnorchoosewhenheor
amemberofhisimmediatefamilywillbecomeill.
"Aptly,itisintheinterestofthepublicservants,thatsickleavecreditshouldbe
usedforthepurposeitisintended."
Pointedly, Section 23 of the Omnibus Rules on Leave should be construed in the light of
Section22,thereof,towit:
"Section22.Monetizationofleave credits Officials and employees in the career
and noncareer service whether permanent, temporary, casual, or coterminous, who have
accumulated fifteen (15) days of vacation leave credits shall be allowed to monetize a
minimumoften(10)days:Provided,thatatleastfive(5)daysisretainedaftermonetization
andprovidedfurtherthatamaximumofthirty(30)daysmaybemonetizedinagivenyear."
Fromtheforegoing,itclearlyshowsthatasageneralrulewhatisallowedtobemonetizedare
the accumulated vacation leave credits. Section 23, on the other hand, is an extraordinarv measure to
relieve an employee from financial difficulties that may be allowed only for valid and justifiable reasons
subject to the discretion of the agency head and the availability of funds. Hence, Section 23 should be
consruedasanexceptiontothegeneralruleasprovidedunderSection22.
Consequently, for purposes of monetization, vacation leave credits must be exhausted first
beforesickleavecreditsmaybeused.Inthisregard,sinceMaslan'svacationleavecreditshavealready
beenexhausted,themonetizationoffiftypercent(50%)ofheravailableonehundredfifty(150)sickleave
creditsmaybeallowedinaccordancewithSection23ofMemorandumCircularNo.41,seriesof1998.
WHEREFORE,theCommissionresolvestorulethatsickleavecreditsmaybemonetizedifan
employee has no available vacation leave credits, in accordance with the general rule under Section 23
oftheOmnibusRulesonLeave,thatvacationleavecreditsmustbeexhaustedfirstbeforesickleave
creditsmaybeused.
QuezonCity,JAN052000

(SGD.)
CORAZONALMAG.DELEON
Chairman

(SGD.)
THELMAP.GAMINDE
Commissioner

DIDNOTPARTICIPATE
JOSEF.ERESTAIN,JR.
Commissioner

Attestedby:
(SGD.)
ARIELG.RONQUILLO
DirectorIII

JJC/FPG/A3/S4/winl/jca
0990500
/niaslan'r