MANILA—Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez announced plans to regularize all contract of service (COS) employees at the agency by 2025, signaling a significant shift towards securing permanent employment for temporary staff.

According to the Philippines News Agency, Secretary Chavez, who was appointed just last week, shared these objectives during the PCO budget presentation at the House of Representatives. The initiative is part of a proposed reorganization and a new organizational structure submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in May 2024, which is currently under review.

Chavez expressed optimism about the DBM's ongoing review, suggesting that the approval of the new structure could lead to a decrease in COS positions by the end of 2024, with a goal of eliminating all such positions by 2025. "There are a total of 217 COS personnel who we also aim to be regularized through the ongoing reorganization process," he stated.

The move to regularize contract employees aligns with the broader administrative goals of providing more stable employment conditions within the government sector. As of June 30, 2024, the PCO had 485 positions, of which 267 are plantilla (permanent) positions—207 filled and 60 vacant. The PCO's Human Resource Management is actively working to fill at least 50% of these vacancies by the end of 2024, as part of this comprehensive staffing overhaul.