CES Strategic Conversation Now in Full Swing
Department of Education Undersecretary Jesus L.R. Mateo and Deputy Executive Secretary (DES) Alberto A. Bernardo sharing their mutual concern for and thoughts on how to improve the education sector during the Orientation on the Career Executive Service Performance Evaluation System facilitated by DES Bernardo.
The Career Executive Service Board’s (CESB) initiative to revive the CES Strategic Conversation (StratCon) is now in full swing as it completed a series of Stratcons with the Department of Education (DepEd) Officials in March 2021. StratCons with DepEd Central Office, Region 11 and Region 1 were conducted on March 16, 19 and 23 after the successful pilot session with the DepEd Region VII in February.
The StratCon is a gathering of CES officials to discuss various issues and foster stronger ties within the CES Community. The 2021 Stratcon focuses on strengthening the Career Executive Service Performance Evaluation System (CESPES) as a system to promote efficiency and performance accountability.
During the Stratcon with the DepEd Central Office, Executive Director (ED) Maria Marcy C. Ballesteros expressed her appreciation to the DepEd for accepting the CESB’s invitation to collaborate with them on its Strategic Conversations undertaking. She shared that the purpose of the conversation is to level off with the agencies to gain common understanding concerning the Performance Commitment and Review Form (PCRF), which the Board looks into during deliberations of applications for eligibility and rank appointment. She reiterated the importance of the CESPES in terms of strengthening accountability of the leaders in the higher civil service as “public service is a public trust”. Moreover, she reminded that the CESPES portal may now be accessed directly through a link posted in the CESB website.
ED Ballesteros acknowledged the DepEd’s dedication to service despite the pandemic, particularly the various learning modalities they employ to continuously deliver basic education to the learners. She likewise thanked them for their support to collaborate with the CESB in the conduct of its StratCons on CESPES-related concerns.
Conversations with DepEd Central Office Officials
The Stratcon with DepEd Central Office and Regional Officials which was held on 16 March started the array of DepEd Stratcon for the month of March.
In front of 51 DepEd Central Office and Regional Officials, Undersecretary Jesus L. R. Mateo warmly thanked the CESB for embarking the program and welcomed the agency’s executives and staff who participated in the event.
CES Governing Board Member and Deputy Executive Secretary (DES) Alberto A. Bernardo presented a session entitled, “The Revised Guidelines on Strengthening Performance Accountability through the Career Executive Service Performance Evaluation System (CESPES).
For better appreciation of the system, DES Bernardo explained thoroughly the CESPES terminologies such as expected results, delivery unit, functional outcome, among others to guide them in accomplishing the PCRF. He emphasized that third level officials are responsible for fund utilization and thus, accountable for the results of the program which should be reflected in the CESPES. He mentioned that budget released for programs should achieve explicit objectives and expected results to ensure that operations are conducted effectively, economically, and efficiently, or the 3Es, and that would also include a fourth “E” which means ethical. These Es are important parameters to assess the performance of the Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs).
He reiterated that the CESOs should be able to articulate the benefits of the programs to its beneficiaries, the breakdown of the output which contributes to the program outcome, their accountability as managers of their respective delivery units, and their individual contribution pertaining to the agency’s performance.
StratCon Rolls to Davao and Ilocos Regions
Back-to-back StratCons were conducted for DepEd Davao and Ilocos Regions on 19 and 23 March 2021 respectively.
In the Davao Region, Assistant Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion welcomed and introduced the DepEd key officials and employees present in the virtual activity. She thanked the CESB and the participants, saying that it is timely and will be helpful in crafting their respective PCRF. She expressed her hopes that the activity will lead to a harmonized results based performance management system as they link their individual performance vis-à-vis the agency’s vision, mission,
Key officials responsible for the successful conduct of Stratcon with Region 11 officials (from left to right): DepEd Regional Director Allan G. Farnazo, CESB Executive Director Maria Marcy-Cosare-Ballesteros, and DepEd Assistant Regional Director Matia Ines C. Asuncion.
and goals. She acknowledged the need to consider applicable standards to ensure continuous delivery of basic education for the learners in the new normal.
Regional Director Allan G. Farnazo conveyed that the objectives of the activity involves conversation, which he said is the most important dynamic of the human existence. He said that conversation happens in many forms that provide a good connection, levelling off, and understanding. He emphasized that connection is even more important in the pandemic situation because one needs to improve his/her competence as he/she pursue the arena of public service.
Director Farnazo added that the activity is an opportunity to level off the various activities, as well as the ongoing or future endeavors of the DepEd and CESB. Finally, he said that the activity provides a common direction where the agency is heading to as they continue providing public service during this challenging times.
In the Ilocos Region, Regional Director Tolentino G. Aquino expressed his thanks to the CESB for providing such exclusive discussion about the CESPES performance appraisal with the officials of the region. He considers the endeavor significant as it would greatly help in the appropriate assessment of their performance and consequently yield positive and efficient service to their learners, teachers, and other stakeholders of the DepEd. He stressed that though the proper and accurate evaluation of their performance they will pivot to quality education as mandated by Secretary Leonor M. Briones.
Ms. Imelda B. Guanzon, Officer-in-Charge of the Performance Management and Assistance Division, facilitated the Stratcon with DepEd Region XI and Region I.
As part of the program, she provided updates on CES policies and programs. She discussed the revised policy on rank appointment, the resumption of performance validation and panel interview which is being held through online platforms, the newly classified CES positions, the status of CES recognition programs, and the calendar of training activities
CESB Resolution No. 1445 as a Mechanism to Promote Performance Accountability
Ms. Guanzon discussed the pertinent provisions of CESB Resolution No. 1445, Series of 2019 entitled “Revised Guidelines on Strengthening Performance Accountability through the Enhanced Career Executive Service Performance Evaluation System (CESPES)”.
She shared that the CESPES was revised to align the system with the Results‐ based Performance Management System through the Department of Budget and Management’s Program Expenditure Classification (PREXC) structure and to enhance mechanisms to account for individual contribution.
Department of Education Region 1 in Zoom Room: Headed by its Regional Director, Tolentino G.Aquino.
Ms. Guanzon discussed the different CESPES forms, but focused on the Ratee Information Sheet (RIS) and the PCRF. She discussed that the RIS is a key document in the CESPES, as this contains information regarding the function of the position and the organizational unit of the official. She emphasized that these information are important because the official’s individual performance commitment should be based on the official’s functional output.
In the case of the DepEd, she said that these information are contained in the DepEd’s Compendium of Office Functions and Job Descriptions. She likewise pointed out that the PCRF should be aligned with the PREXC, as well as the DepEd’s Department Order No. 2, series of 2015, or the Guidelines on the Establishment and Implementation of the Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS) . The key is to be able to align the various process outputs in the official’s Office Performance Commitment and Review with the specific programs enumerated in the DepEd PREXC.
She also reminded the participants of the importance of proper filling out of the PCRF as this is reviewed by the Board, especially for those who are applying for conferment CES Eligibility and rank appointment. She encouraged the use of the paper version of the PCRF for it will help the superior rate the various accomplishments of the ratee-official.
Arnel Doctolero, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Vigan CIty finds the activity worthwhile and stated his hopes for more engagements like the Stratcon. Meanwhile, Dee D. Silva, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Davao Del Sur said that the program, “is very helpful and very enlightening especially on the importance of the alignment to the PREXC when we make our PCR.”
The said Stratcons were attended by twenty-eight (28) officials and employees from DepEd Regional Office XI and thirty-six (36) officials and employees from DepEd Regional Office I. Ms. Giselle N. Luna of the PMAD hosted the said events.