REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON AUDIT
Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

RESOLUTION No. 2002-002

Date February 7, 2002

SUBJECT : Implementing Guidelines on Study Leave for Bar/Board review and
examination or completion of Master's Degree pursuant to Civil
Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 14, series of 1999.

WHEREAS, the Commission recognizes the importance of every member of the
organization whose self-development and general well being are its concern and
therefore is supportive of various human resource development activities within and
outside COA;
WHEREAS, Section 68 of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum
Circular (MC) No. 14, s. 1999 on Additional Provisions and Amendments to CSC MC
No. 41, s. 1998, provides that officials and employees, excluding those in the
teaching profession, who are covered by different provisions of law, may be entitled
to go on study leave on official time to prepare for their Bar/Board examinations or to
complete their master's degree;
WHEREAS, for an equitable and rational availment of the study leave by COA
officials and employees subject to the general guidelines stated in the
aforementioned CSC MC, the Scholarship Board recommends the adoption of the
herein implementing guidelines on the matter;
NOW THEREFORE, the Commission Proper resolves, as it does hereby resolve
to adopt the following implementing guidelines on study leave for Bar/Board review
and examination or completion of Masters Degree pursuant to CSC-MC No. 14,
series of 1999:

I. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The applicant for study leave
1. Must be a permanent employee of the Commission.
2. Must have rendered at least two (2) years of service in the
Commission at the time of application.
3. Must have graduated with a Bachelor's Degree which consequently
requires passing the Bar/Board licensure examination. For thesis
writing or comprehensive examination, the official/employee must
have completed all the academic requirements for a Master's Degree.
4. Must have at least very satisfactory performance rating for the last
two (2) semesters and favorably recommended by his Director.
5. Must have no pending administrative and/or criminal case.
6. Must have no current local or foreign scholarship grant.
7. Must have fulfilled the service obligation for any previous local or
foreign scholarship.
8. Must not be more than fifty-five (55) years of age.
9. Must not have previously failed the same examination under a
government scholarship grant.

II. PRIVILEGES OF THE GRANTEE
If the study leave is approved, the applicant
1. Shall be authorized to avail of the study leave on a full time basis for
a period not exceeding six (6) months on official time.
2. Shall continue to receive his salary and all authorized allowances or
benefits.
3. Shall enjoy continuous service during the period of the study leave
and shall earn the corresponding leave credits.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES/OBLIGATIONS OF THE GRANTEE
1. The grantee shall sign a Study Leave Contract, and abide by the
terms and conditions stipulated therein.
2. For the grantee of study leave for Bar/Board review and examination

a. Upon approval of the study grant, the grantee shall enroll
immediately in a school of his choice and complete all
requirements to qualify for admission to take the Bar/Board
examination for which the study leave was granted.
b. After taking the Bar/Board examination, he shall immediately
submit the following documents to the Human Resource
Management Office (HRMO) for monitoring and updating
purposes:
Certificate of enrollment in a school
Proof of having taken the Bar/Board examination
Certificate of assumption after the study leave
Report of Rating (for Bar/Board passers) upon release
by the Supreme Court of the Philippines/ Professional
Regulatory Commission (PRC)
3. For the grantee of study leave for completion of Master's Degree
a. He shall furnish the HRMO a copy of his thesis proposal
and/or certification from the Dean of the Graduate School that
he has completed the academic requirements and is qualified
to take the comprehensive examination and/or complete his
thesis.
b. After the study leave for completion of his Master's Degree, he
shall submit the following:
Diploma and Transcript of Records
Copy of thesis/research paper or its equivalent
Certificate of assumption

4. The grantee shall render the required service obligation reckoned
from his date of assumption after the study leave, as follows:
No. of Years Service
Obligation Period of Study Leave

Three (3) years More than three (3) months
to six (6) months

Two (2) years One (1) month to three (3)
months

5. In the instance that the grantee fails to complete his Bar/Board review
and examination and/or his Masters Degree, he shall immediately
inform the Scholarship Board through the HRMO of the same.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CENTRAL/REGIONAL OFFICE DIRECTORS
1. Accept and initially screen applications for study leave using the
qualification criteria mentioned in Item I.
2. Forward/submit to the HRMO the application(s) together with the
required documents in one (1) copy, as follows:
a. Personal Data Sheet
b. Service Record
c. Transcript of Records/Certification of Grades issued by the
School Registrar
in Law Proper, for those applying for Bar review and
examination
in Accountancy/Engineering etc. for those applying for
Board review
in Masters Degree showing completion of all academic
requirements for comprehensive examination and/or
thesis writing
d. Performance rating for the past two (2) semesters
e. Certification that the applicant has no pending
administrative/criminal case
f. Certification that the applicant is not enjoying another
scholarship grant with the government and that he has no
pending service obligation for any previous local or foreign
scholarship to be signed by the Administrative Officer and
noted by the Director.
3. For Regional Directors, sign the Study Leave Contract for and in
behalf of the Chairman upon receipt of the advice of the favorable
recommendation of the Scholarship Board and submit the same to
the HRMO to facilitate preparation of the Office Order.
4. Ensure that the limitation on the number of grantees per Office and
per Region is strictly observed so that the study leave shall not in any
way prejudice/hamper the smooth operation of their offices.
5. Maintain a list of grantees under their supervision and monitor the
grantees' compliance with the herein guidelines and the terms and
conditions of the Study Leave Contract.

V. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HRMO
1. Evaluate the initial screening made by the Central/Regional Office
Directors to ensure that the applicant meets the requirements under
Item I hereof and returns application papers of applicants who do not
meet the qualification requirements of the study leave.
2. Inform the Scholarship Board of applications that have been returned
for failure to meet the qualification requirements.
3. Submit the evaluated application of qualified applicants to the
Scholarship Board for appropriate action.
4. Advise the applicant through his Director of the action of the
Scholarship Board and require the execution and submission of the
Scholarship Contract for applicants outside Metro Manila.
5. Prepare the Study Leave Contract of all Metro Manila grantees, upon
favorable recommendation of the Scholarship Board and require the
grantee to sign the same. The Director, HRMO, signs the contract for
and in behalf of the COA Chairman.
6. Upon receipt of the duly notarized Study Leave Contract, prepare the
Office Order for the signature of the COA Chairman authorizing
applicants to avail of the study leave.
7. Act on requests for reconsideration on returned applications.
8. Submit to the Scholarship Board appeals on requests for
reconsideration denied by the HRMO.
9. Maintain a list of all grantees, monitors their compliance with the
herein guidelines and the terms and conditions of the Study Leave
Contract, and submit a semestral report on the status of scholarships
granted to the Scholarship Board.

VI. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOLARSHIP BOARD
1. Evaluate the study leave applications submitted by the HRMO for
appropriate action.
2. Recommend to the COA Chairman for his approval study leave
applications favorably acted upon.
3. Evaluate and recommend action to the COA Chairman on appeals of
applicants whose applications have been disapproved by the Board.
4. Evaluate whether the reasons behind the scholars non-completion of
his review classes and/or Masters Degree and/or failure to take the
Bar/Board examination is justifiable or not and recommend
appropriate action thereon.
5. Require the submission of a semestral monitoring report by the
HRMO for their evaluation and submit the same to the COA
Chairman.
6. Oversee the implementation of the policy on study leave and
imposition of sanctions on violations of the Study Leave Contract.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND IMPLEMENTING CONTROLS
1. An applicant who obtained failing grades may still be considered
provided he did not fail twice in any major subject.
2. As a general rule, a grantee who fails to complete review classes
and/or take the examination within the period authorized for his
Bar/Board review and examination or complete his Master's Degree
shall refund the salaries and allowances received during the period of
the study leave and shall be disqualified from availment of future
scholarships or study grants in the Commission. However, in
exceptional cases where reasons are justifiable as determined by the
Board, the grantee may be allowed to avail of the unexpired portion of
the six-month period without refunding the salaries and allowances
received during the period of the study leave.
3. A grantee who fails to render in full the required service obligation on
account of voluntary resignation, optional retirement, separation from
the service through his own fault, or other causes within his control,
shall refund the gross salary, allowances and other benefits received
while on study leave based on the following formula:
R =
(SOR-SOS)
X TCR
SOR

where:
R =
TCR =

SOS =
SOR =
refund
Total Compensation Received
(Gross salary, allowances and benefits)
Service Obligation Served
Service Obligation Required

4. A grantee is given fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of refund to
settle the amount. If the grantee fails to refund within the
reglementary period, the refund shall be effected through salary
deduction to be determined by the PFMO.
5. Grantees shall not be more than two (2) for every Bar/Board
examination including Masters Degree completion for each
Office/Region, provided that the number of grantees per
Office/Region shall not exceed six (6) in a given year. Provided
further that should the slots for Board examination and/or completion
of Masters Degree not be filled up, the slots for Bar review and
examination may be increased to four (4).
6. The study leave may be availed of more than once, provided the
service obligation on the study leave previously availed had already
been rendered. Provided further that the study leave application shall
not be for the same category previously availed of.
7. The study leave shall take effect at the start of the review classes.

VIII. AMENDMENT AND/OR REPEALING CLAUSE
COA Resolution No. 97-019 is hereby deemed repealed in its entirety.
The provisions under COA Resolution No. 97-020 pertinent to the time
scholarship for Bar review and examination and Sections 2 and 4 of COA
Resolution No. 97-031 on cash grants are likewise repealed accordingly.

IX. EFFECTIVITY
This COA Resolution takes effect immediately.
Quezon City, Philippines.