The Office of the President has extended the term of all its coterminous officials and employees until the end of the year, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced on Monday.
“All employees and officials in the Office of the President Proper, whose issued appointments were coterminous with the previous appointing authority, shall remain in service and continue to perform their duties and functions until 31 December 2022,” Bersamin said in a Memorandum Order 7 dated 27 September.
During the flag-raising ceremony in Malacañang, Bersamin said the order was issued to prevent disruption in the delivery of government services.
The “Little President,” however, noted that this will be in effect unless the appointments are sooner revoked, or there are resignations, replacements, or reappointments.
Speaking before the staff members of the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Office of the Press Secretary during the flag-raising ceremony, OP Human Resources Director Andrea Maila Ordanez thanked Bersamin for the memorandum, saying that it allowed them to keep their jobs until at least after Christmas Day.
“It is really hard to be in that place of uncertainty, especially this coming Christmas season. Hiling lang ng bawat isa sa amin ay maging happy tayo ngayong Pasko. Again, thank you very much po,” Ordanez said.
Meanwhile, in his speech during the ceremony, Bersamin, a retired Supreme Court chief justice, reminded his fellow public servants to “be true” to their oath of office.