CSC Special Leave Privileges Amendment

The amendment is anchored on CSC Memorandum Circular No. 41, s. 1998 through modification of Section 21.
The circular also frames its coverage as an expanded coverage of special leave privileges previously provided under CSC MC 6 and 20 of 1998 and CSC MC No. 41, s. 1998.
The operative change specifically amends Section 21 of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 41, s. 1998.

The circular provides for the equitable availment of special leave privileges across all qualified sectors of the bureaucracy.
The privilege must be granted regardless of civil status and personal circumstances.
The amendment applies as a corrective measure to ensure access by qualified employees covered by the system.

Section 21 grants special leave privileges to officials and employees with or without existing Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA).
The grant applies to those who have the privileges in addition to existing vacation, sick, maternity and paternity leave.
Teachers and those covered by special leave laws are excluded from the coverage of the granted special leave privileges under Section 21.
Special leave privileges are granted subject to the conditions stated in Section 21.

Section 21 provides these special leave privileges in addition to vacation, sick, maternity, and paternity leave:
- Personal milestones such as birthdays/wedding/wedding anniversary celebrations and other similar milestones, including death anniversaries.
- Parental obligations such as attendance in school programs, PTA meetings, graduations, first communion, and medical needs, among others, where a child of the government employee is involved.
- Filial obligations to cover the employee’s moral obligation toward parents and siblings for their medical and social needs.
- Domestic emergencies such as sudden urgent repairs needed at home, sudden absence of a yaya or maid, and similar situations.
- Personal transactions covering the entire range of transactions with government and private offices, such as paying taxes and court appearances, and arranging a housing loan, etc.
- Calamity, accident hospitalization leave for force majeure events that affect the life, limb, and property of the employee or the employee’s immediate family.

Saturday/Sunday/Holiday rule: An employee may still avail of birthday or wedding anniversary leave if the occasion falls on either a Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday, either before or after the occasion.
Proof requirement removed: Employees applying for special privilege leaves are no longer required to present proof that they are entitled to avail of such leaves.
Three-day limit per year: The three-day limit for a given year must be strictly observed.
- An employee may avail of one (1) special privilege leave for three (3) days or a combination of any of the leaves for a maximum of three (3) days in a given year.
Non-cumulative and non-convertible: Special leave privileges are non-cumulative and strictly non-convertible to cash.
Definition of immediate family under Rule 1 (Definition of Terms): Immediate family refers to spouse, children, parents, unmarried brothers and sisters, or any relative living under the same roof or dependent upon the employee for support.

Section 21 establishes the eligibility and limits of special leave privileges, while conditions directly govern how employees may avail of the privileges.
Employees may apply for special privilege leaves without submitting proof of entitlement.
Employees must observe the rule that the total special privilege leave taken in a given year cannot exceed three (3) days, whether taken as a single category or a combination.

The circular provides that the three-day limit for a given year “shall be strictly observed,” establishing mandatory compliance with the limit.

The circular takes effect immediately, and its operative amendment is the modification of Section 21 of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 41, s. 1998.