The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives has approved a measure authored by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, which aims to strengthen the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) by increasing its capability in resolving  labor cases.

Nograles, who is the vice president for internal affairs of the National Unity Party (NUP), said his bill, House Bill 3887,  removes restrictions on the NLRC and provides it greater flexibility in managing its human resources.

His measure, which was approved by the appropriations panel led by Rep. Isidro Ungab, seeks to amend Articles 213 and 215 of Presidential Decree 442, otherwise known as the "Labor Code of the Philippines.”

The amendments are necessary because the NLRC chairman needs to have greater control and supervision over the assignment of labor arbiters to areas where their services are most needed, Nograles said.

But Republic Act 9347, the law which rationalizes the composition and functions of the NLRC,  prevents its Chairman from doing this. Under RA 9347, labor arbiters should be appointed to a specific branch and are prohibited from being assigned to the Office of the Commissioner.

“The NLRC must be endowed with the flexibility it needs to immediately adapt to varying industrial relations scenarios,” said Nograles, who also chairs the House labor and employment committee. 

"Labor relations climate could change drastically and in a fast pace, dictated as it is by economic developments or situations in the industry, region, country and the world as well,"  he added.

Nograles said the restrictions under RA 9347 also run counter to the proviso on labor arbiters being subject to Civil Service Law, rules and regulations and therefore, could be re-assigned whenever the interest of the service so requires.

"It is in this light that amendments to the Labor Code are being proposed by removing such restrictions and affording greater flexibility in managing NLRC's valuable human resource," said Nograles.

Under Nograles’ bill, RA 9347 will be amended so that the NLRC and its eight divisions shall be assisted by the Commission Attorneys in their appellate and adjudicatory functions. The term of Commission Attorneys shall be coterminous with the Commissioners with whom they are assigned.

"The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint the staff and employees of the Commission and its regional branches as the needs of the service may require, subject to the Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, and upgrade their current salaries, benefits and other emoluments in accordance with law,” the bill states.

The bill provides that  "there shall be as many Commission Attorneys as may be necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the Commission but in no case more than five assigned to the Office of the Chairman and each Commissioner."

"The Labor Arbiters shall also be appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Commission en banc, and shall be subject to Civil Service Laws, rules and regulations," the Nograles measure likewise states.