Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman has approved the upgrading of the existing positions for government psychologists to support the promotion of inclusive and effective mental health programs for all public servants, as provided under DBM Budget Circular (BC) No. 2024-5.

 

The decision follows a thorough study, evaluation, and action on the request made by the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and the Department of Health (DOH) to the DBM.

 

"Magle-level up na po ang salary grade ng ating mga existing psychologists sa gobyerno! I know that is long overdue for our dear psychologists in government, but we are happy that under the term of our President Bongbong Marcos, nagkatotoo na po,” Secretary Mina said.

 

“We all know that prioritizing mental health programs is fundamental to fostering a healthy and productive workforce. The upgrade in psychologist positions in government is an important step toward strengthening our mental health initiatives," Sec. Mina added.

 

Budget Circular 2024-5 specifically covers all Psychologist I, II, and III positions, whether regular, casual or contractual in nature, full-time, now existing or hereafter created in the national government agencies, including state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations, and in local government units covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System under the "Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989," as amended.

 

The Circular states that Psychologist I posts will have an adjusted salary grade from SG 11 to SG 16. For Psychologist II, the salary grade will be raised from SG 15 to SG 18. Meanwhile, the salary grade for Psychologist III will be upgraded from SG 18 to SG 20. The adjustments will take effect on January 1, 2025.

 

The decision to upgrade the salary grade of government psychologists is in recognition of the higher qualifications required of them upon entering gov’t service— i.e., masters degree and 200 hrs internship, among others.

 

“Ang sahod ay dapat pong iayon sa kwalipikasyon. How can we hire or attract experts or high-caliber personnel if the salary we offer is way below than the pay they deserve? With the upgrading, we hope to be able to recruit more psychologists in the government sector, so we can also develop and enhance mental health of government workers across the bureaucracy,” Sec. Mina explained.

 

 

Consistent with CSC MC No. 4, s. 2020, the Circular likewise emphasized the need for departments and agencies of the government to develop a comprehensive Mental Health Program that will be responsive to the psychiatric and psychosocial needs of their employees, which includes the provision of an inclusive, conducive, and supportive work environment for them.

 

Such program promotes mental health and wellness of government employees, which, in turn ensures a healthy and productive workforce.

 

Earlier this week, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. signed the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-being Promotion Act, which aims to institutionalize mental health and well-being programs in schools, as well as create new plantilla positions for school counselors.

 

Under the law, services for mental health, emotional development, preventive interventions, and other support services, alongside efforts to eliminate the stigma or misconceptions surrounding mental health counseling will be established. Along this line, the DBM action on the upgrading of the government psychologist positions complements the overall agenda of the President in support of the mental health advancement in the country.

 

13 December 2024*

 

 

Inaprubahan ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman ang pag-upgrade ng mga existing na posisyon ng mga government psychologist upang suportahan ang pagsusulong ng inclusive at epektibong mga mental health programs para sa lahat ng kawani ng gobyerno, sa ilalim ng DBM Budget Circular ( BC) No. 2024-5.

 

Ang desisyon ay kasunod ng masusing pag-aaral, pagsusuri, at aksyon sa kahilingan ng National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) at ng Department of Health (DOH) sa DBM.

 

"Magle-level up na po ang salary grade ng ating mga existing psychologists sa gobyerno! I know that is long overdue for our dear psychologists in government, but we are happy that under the term of our President BBM, nagkatotoo na po,” sinabi ni Secretary Mina.

 

“We all know that prioritizing mental health programs is fundamental to fostering a healthy and productive workforce. The upgrade in psychologist positions in government is an important step toward strengthening our mental health initiatives," dagdag pa ni Sec. Mina.

 

Saklaw ng Budget Circular 2024-5 ang lahat ng posisyon ng Psychologist I, II, at III, regular, casual o contractual man ito, full-time, na kasalukuyang umiiral o lilikhain pa lamang sa mga ahensya ng national government, kasama na ang state universities and colleges, at mga government-owned or -controlled corporations, and local government units na covered ng Compensation and Position Classification System sa ilalim ng 'Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989,' as amended.

 

Nakasaad sa Circular na ang mga post ng Psychologist I ay magkakaroon ng adjusted salary grade mula SG 11 sa SG 16. Para sa Psychologist II, ang salary grade ay itataas mula SG 15 sa SG 18. Samantala, ang salary grade para sa Psychologist III ay ia-upgrade mula sa SG 18 sa SG 20. Magkakabisa ang mga adjustment sa Enero 1, 2025.

 

Ang desisyon na i-upgrade ang salary grade ng mga psychologist ng gobyerno ay bilang pagkilala sa pagkakaroon ng mas mataas na kwalipikasyon sa pagpasok nila sa gobyerno, tulad ng masters degree at 200 hrs ng internship, at iba pa.

 

“Ang sahod ay dapat pong iayon sa kwalipikasyon. How can we hire or attract experts or high-caliber personnel if the salary we offer is way below than the pay they deserve? With the upgrading, we hope to be able to recruit more psychologists in the government sector, so we can also develop and enhance mental health of government workers across the bureaucracy,” paliwanag ni Sec. Mina.

 

 

Alinsunod sa CSC MC No. 4, s. 2020, binigyang-diin din ng Circular ang pangangailangan para sa mga kagawaran at ahensya ng gobyerno na bumuo ng isang komprehensibong Mental Health Program na tutugon sa psychiatric at psychosocial na pangangailangan ng kanilang mga empleyado, kabilang na ang pagbibigay ng inclusive, conducive, at supportive work environment para sa kanila.

 

Itinataguyod ng programa ang mental health at wellness ng mga empleyado ng gobyerno, na sa huli ay magsisiguro ng isang malusog at produktibong mga manggagawa.

 

Nitong linggo, nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. ang Basic Education Mental Health at Well-being Promotion Act, na naglalayong gawing institusyonal ang mga mental health at well-being program sa mga paaralan, gayun din  ang paglikha ng mga bagong plantilla position para sa mga school counselor.

 

Sa ilalim ng batas, itinatatag ang mga serbisyo para sa mental health, emotional development, preventive interventions, at iba pang support services, kasama na ang pagsisikap na alisin ang stigma o maling akala ukol sa mental health counseling. Kaugnay nito, ang aksyon ng DBM sa pagtaas ng mga posisyon ng government psychologist ay kaakibat ng overall agenda ng Pangulo sa pagsuporta sa mental health advancement sa bansa.