After a series of mediation conferences before single-entry approach (SEnA) desk officer/conciliator-mediator Romeo Pasustento of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Regional Arbitration Branch-Region VI, a settlement was agreed to between the Bacolod Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital employees’ union, the National Federation of Labor Union-Kilusang Mayo Uno, represented by Santi E. Mamon; hospital owners Tiong Bi Inc., represented by Dr. Evangeline C. Johnson; and Negros Healthcare Management System Inc., represented by Dr. Nestor O. Amante.

The parties agreed to 15 days separation pay, five days’ worth of financial assistance, 13th month pay, and accumulated leave pay for the 401 employees affected by the hospital’s closure. As of September 5, they agreed to the benefits package worth P12,975,889.30.

The settlement was eventually approved by Executive Labor Arbiter Jessie Sullano.

In an exclusive interview with Pasustento, he said this has been his biggest settlement mediated so far.

As mentioned in a column published last July, SEnA is an administrative procedure involving a mandatory 30-day conciliation-mediation to ensure a speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible settlement for all labor and employment issues. Upon filing of the complaint with either the Department of Labor and Employment or NLRC, the agency has 30 days to settle the dispute amicably. However, if a settlement is not reached after conciliation-mediation, a SEnA desk officer, who serves as hearing officer, elevates the matter to the labor arbiter level.

Pasustento has been in government for quite some time and is a dedicated SEnA desk officer. With his assistant Karen Maribojoc they are able to accomplish their targets.

Competent and dedicated public servants are hard to find nowadays. Some simply work to earn a living, but these guys, I have been told, are an asset to the organization./WDJ