MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is set to promote 516 employees after the Merit and Promotion Board started to deliberate on its employees due for promotion.
PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino thanked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for issuing the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action (NOSCA) reflecting the creation of a total of 688 positions.
Aquino said this would be the first mass promotion of employees in the history of PDEA.
The number of plantilla positions is composed of the following: 86 Investigation Agent IV (SG 24); 86 Investigation Agent III (SG 22); 172 Investigation Agent I (SG 18) and 172 Intelligence Officer II (SG 15), all of which would be filled up through promotion.
The remaining 172 Intelligence Officer I (SG 11) positions, will be recruited. This means that there will be Investigation and Intelligence Officers to be fielded in each province all over the country.
“PDEA has limited workforce. With the additional 688 warm, able and competent bodies, the agency will be able to face the tough grind in the war against illegal drugs. This will enhance our capability in addressing the drug menace which continue to be one of the most serious problems facing the country today, “Aquino pointed out, adding that the PDEA is the lead agency in the national anti-drug campaign as provided for in Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
In a related development, the PDEA is strengthening the physical fitness of its agents and personnel to be able to cope with the rigors and challenges needed for drug enforcement and office work.
Aquino said the physical fitness program is geared towards physical conditioning and well-being of every personnel.
“Agents and personnel have separate physical fitness activities to suit their skills and functions. The agents endure a more rigorous physical conditioning for stamina and agility through push-ups, sit-ups, runs and other physical skills, while the office personnel go through zumba and ballroom dancing every Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Aquino said in a statement. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
