As part of the employees’ learning and development, PSA sent representatives to the Philippine Association for Government Budget Administration (PAGBA) Seminar and Meeting annually starting 2018. For this year, PSA Region VII attended the 3rd Quarterly Seminar and Meeting at L’ Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City on August 28-31, 2019. The theme for the said event was “Public Financial Management in a Difficult and Changing Environment”. The attendees of the seminar were the following: Admin Officer I Mary Antonette Jungao of PSA Bohol, Admin Officer I Sarah Jane Bolongaita of PSA Negros Oriental, Admin Officer I Nympha Chiu of PSA Cebu, Admin Assistant III Irish Velasco of PSA RSSO VII, Admin Officer IV Melita Jomuad of PSA RSSO VII and Admin Officer IV Xina  Ixora Aranas of PSA RSSO VII.

The four-day seminar has very interesting and informative topics shared by different speakers who were experts in their field. Among the topics discussed were:

• Data Privacy Act by Commissioner Raymundo E. Liboro of the National Privacy Commission;

• Effectiveness of Internal Audit in ISO Certification by Mr. Rolando C. Remitar, External Auditor of TUV Rheinland;

• Supplies Inventory and Property Management by Mr. Jerry A. Calayan of COA;

• Financial Literacy: Managing Income, Retirement & Investment by Director Jose P. Aquino of SEC;

• Updates on Compensation Matters Including EO77 and Rules on Hiring Contacts of Service and Job Orders by Asst. Secretary Myrna S. Chua of DBM;

• Personality Development by Director Lucina Flor B. Ramos of Civil Service Institute;

• Rescue and Disaster Preparedness by Dr. Teofredo T. Esguerra of National Development Corporation;

• Taxes Witheld by NGAs and LGUs by Director Marivic A. Galban of BIR;

• Focus of 2020 National Budget by Director Cristina B. Clasara of DBM and Stress Management;

• Mental Health Awareness by Ms. Frances Prescilla Cuevas of DOH.

The last day of the seminar convened the group’s interest for the upcoming 4th PAGBA gathering. The topics and venue were also discussed. The fellowship dinner capped the event, that allowed everyone to meet acquaintances and added friends.