Fit to Work Act

CONCERNED about how government leaders have been turning out to be medically unfit to efficiently discharge their duties, Senate President Vicente Sotto III has moved to require public disclosure of the medical state of all public officials and employees to ensure efficient and continuous government service.

Sotto has filed proposed Senate Bill No. 1818, or the "Fit-to-Work Act", which seeks to compel all public leaders - whether appointed or elected - and government workers to submit an annual medical certificate disclosing their health status and which would be made available to the public.

"Intelligence and skills alone are not enough to carry out the sworn duty of public officers and employees to serve the people with utmost responsibility and efficiency at all times. A good state of health is of equal importance and a critical factor in discharging one's function, yet often overlooked," Sotto said.

"Paulit ulit nating nararanasan ang paghinto ng serbisyo publiko dahil ang mga lider ng ating mga ahensiya ay mayroon palang mga kondisyong medikal na nagiging balakid sa maayos nilang paggawa ng kanilang mga trabaho. Hindi dapat naaapektuhan ang public service ng personal na medikal na isyu ng ating mga lider at manggagawa sa gobyerno," Sotto added.

SBN 1818 will mandate public officers and employees to submit to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) a medical certificate on or before April 30 every year declaring them as fit to work and physically able to perform their duties and responsibilities. The requirement also includes the submission of the results of the physical examination and laboratory tests performed by private or government health facilities or diagnostics clinics.

Non-submission of the medical certificate under the Sotto bill will be considered as an administrative offense and shall merit the offending official or employee an administrative disciplinary sanction.

Sotto said the medical certificate will be made available to the public "for lawful purposes" in keeping with the commitment of public officers and employees to remain sincere and transparent to the Filipino people.

"Hindi tamang itinatago ng ating mga lider sa publiko ang kanilang mga kondisyong medikal na makapagpapabagal o magiging dahilan ng paghinto ng serbisyong publiko. It is our responsibility as public leaders and servants to serve our people with utmost honesty," Sotto stressed.