Employees from the different schools and offices of Saint Louis University (SLU) attended the orientation– on different SLU employee policies and social legislations– organized by the Human Resources Department (HRD) on 09 December 2024 (two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and 10 December 2024 (one session in the morning) held at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building, SLU Main Campus.
On behalf of the HRD Director, Mr. Jeremy Lee L. Dela Cruz, HRD Assistant Director, Ms. Jean Karen G. Jaime, gave her welcome remarks, expressing gratitude and commending the attendance of each department. “The purpose of this orientation is to re-introduce or re-orient you to our University guidelines on data privacy, code of discipline, and the various resources, services, and opportunities available to you as provided by SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-Ibig. As the University evolves its strategic management, we aim to re-update to make changes to work foundations that transpires and surpass orientation prior to employment at the University,” Ms. Jaime stated.
The University’s Data Protection Officer, Ms. Cecilia A. Mercado, PhD, began the first session with key objectives, structure, and guidelines on Data Privacy, pressing the importance of handling personal data. Dr. Mercado emphasized that the data within the university is pervasive across various departmental units, and that a breach would put the personal data of students, employees, and personnel at risk. “Given now that we have all these cyberthreats, we now have this changing landscape, it’s also important that we have data privacy awareness because it can allow us to mitigate cybersecurity threats,” she said.
For the second session, the Director of the Office for Legal Affairs, Atty. Johanne Margarette R. Macob pressed on the importance of the implementation of the Code of Discipline for Employees, which outlines the expected behavior for employees within the University. With a comprehensive breakdown of different disciplinary policies, general provisions, and procedures in the development of self-discipline and self-consciousness among SLU personnel, Atty. Macob stated, “Ideally, as employees of a Catholic institution, we, employees, are expected to have and to embody Catholic values and virtues. That is the idea, that personally, on our own, we are ethical and morally upright… But sometimes, we err or our values are really not the same as the values expected of us by society. Thus, the formal compulsion through laws (rules & regulations), in our case, through our code of discipline.” In discussing the Code of Discipline, she highlighted that the provisions are corrective in purpose and restorative in principle in pursuing a common good.
Representatives from various government agencies were also invited to discuss updates in different social legislations.
During the first session, the Senior Analyst of Accounts Management System of Social Security System (SSS) Baguio, Mr. Etienne R. Regacho, tackled the various programs available for employees, credit allocations, pension, membership and savings programs that may be beneficial for the financial protection of workers. “Dati-dati kasi, manual ang processing ng SSS forms. Pero ngayon, it can be processed online”, she briefly explained, reinforcing the online system available for SSS beneficiaries.
Moreover, a representative from Pag-IBIG Fund’s Baguio Branch, Ms. Leah Bernadette M. Dulay, provided a detailed discussion of the programs offered by Pag-IBIG Fund, specifically Pag-IBIG Fund Mandates and Benefits. She also introduced a new virtual platform for Pag-Ibig, allowing users to access and monitor their accounts easier. “Isang gusto kong i-highlight is the Virtual Pag-Ibig. You can create your virtual Pag-Ibig account, where you can view your loan payments, etc.,” Ms. Dulay said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Social Insurance Officer of PhilHealth Baguio, Ms. Janet M. Palaez, discussed the background of PhilHealth and the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, the Population, Service, and Financial Coverages of PhilHealth, with a breakdown of direct and indirect contributors and dependents. “Kung mas mababa yung loan term, ang difference is mas mababa yung amortization, So, mas magaan sa ating pagbabayad. And anytime during the loan term you can fully pay your housing loan. So wala pong prepay penalties or mga fees o sisingilin dahil maaga ang pag-avail,” Ms. Palaez stated, elaborating on the terms and conditions of the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Program.
The series of training sessions serves as a necessary step in SLU’s pursuit to excellence within its systems, maintaining thorough administrative processes that will ensure the smooth operation of each department within the University, whilst maintaining professionalism and due processes of implementing privacy laws, code of ethics, and the benefits and services of various government-mandated programs.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically with SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SLU continues to push initiatives on its various systems within its offices, focused on the maintenance of all operations in the University’s academic, health, safety, and administrative sectors. (Article by Agnes Dela Pena, UIO Intern | Photos by Arnmari Dela Cruz, UIO Intern)
