Question STEP INCREMENT

Hello, Action Officers and Admin!

Ang appointment ko po ay dated February 01, 2019 in the LGU as Social Welfare Officer III with SG 18, Step 1.

Granting na lahat ng leave of absence (vacation and sick leave) ko ay approved, hindi ako nag-maternity leave, I was not suspended, tuloy-tuloy ang pasok ko and have no record of leave without pay until February 02, 2022, entitled na ba ako nun para magkaroon ng Step Increment from Step 1 to Step 2? If not, when will I be granted a step increment given the said situation?

Maraming salamat po.

Good day Sir/Madam:

This is to reiterate that as a matter of policy, this Office refrains from rendering categorical opinions on matters and issues that may later be a subject of an administrative proceeding before the Commission either via an appeal or a complaint. This is to preclude the possibility of prejudgment should an actual administrative case be commenced or instituted based on the said matters or issues.

Anent your query, we invite your attention to CSC-DBM Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2012 (Rules and Regulations on the Grant of Step Increment/s Due to Meritorious Performance and Step Increment Due to Length of Service), particularly 6.0 Grant of Step Increment Due to Length of Service which states that:

“6.1 One (1) Step Increment Due to Length of Service shall be granted to qualified personnel for every three (3) years of continuous satisfactory service in the present position. Said length of service in the present position in the same agency may include the period/s rendered by an incumbent as follows:

6.1.1 While on temporary or provisional status of appointment in the same position;
6.1.2 Before his/her present position was reclassified/upgraded/reallocated; and
6.1.3 Period rendered by him/her prior to re-appointment to the same of comparable position with the same salary grad in a reorganized agency staffing pattern.

6.2 Length of service in the present position shall also include the period rendered by an incumbent prior to his/her transfer within the same agency or to another agency in a position with the same or comparable position and salary grade.

6.3 The grant of step increment to an official or employee on leave of absence with or without pay for more than three (3) months shall be deferred corresponding to the period of such absence/non-performance of actual duties and responsibilities of his/her position to complete the service and performance rating requirements. xxx”

Based on your representation, if your appointment was dated February 1, 2019, and granting that you were in satisfactory service for three (3) consecutive years, you shall be entitled to step increment on February 2, 2022.

We hope that we were able to answer your query.