We express our grave concern regarding the reclassification of hundreds of plantilla positions at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) into “Co-Terminus with the Incumbent” (CTI) status.
This action, which was acted upon unilaterally by the PGH administration, poses a direct threat to the job security, professional growth, and morale of our essential hospital personnel. Among the most affected are utility workers, ward assistants, nursing aides, and other support staff indispensable to hospital operations. They are those in Salary Grades 1 to 4 who are the most vulnerable among our workforce.
In a dialogue with the All UP Workers Union – Manila Chapter, PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi confirmed that the DBM had ordered 1,940 positions to be tagged as CTI. Without prior consultation, dialogue, or even notification with affected staff or the Union, the PGH administration submitted a counterproposal offering more than 400 positions for CTI conversion. This blatant disregard for due process directly violates the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) between the University and the AUPWU.
Under this plan, CTI status threatens our personnel’s job security, because once vacated, these positions will be abolished. PGH’s workforce will be reduced over time, jeopardizing not only current employees’ tenure and career progressions but also compromising hospital operations especially as PGH is expected to expand its services under Republic Act No. 12210.
We assert that any significant change to PGH’s staffing structure must be immediately suspended and subjected to a thorough and transparent review. This is an issue that deserves attention within and beyond the UP Community, as PGH serves not only as a vital training ground for health professionals, but also as the country’s foremost public hospital, serving some of the most marginalized members of society. Thus, these decisions must, at the minimum, be discussed by the Board of Regents.
We therefore call on the PGH administration to disclose all communications and documents related to the CTI directive and the submitted counterproposal. We urge them to respect the CNA and engage in genuine consultation with the AUPWU and other affected sectors. Disregarding the welfare of our workforce essentially undermines our mission of public service.
We, your Staff Regent, Student Regent, and Faculty Regent, stand firmly in solidarity with PGH workers and all members of the University community in defending labor rights, democratic governance, and integrity in public service.
Francesca Mariae M. Duran
Student Regent
Early Sol A. Gadong
Faculty Regent
Marie Theresa S. Alambra
Staff Regent