South Cotabato, Philippines – As of November 30, 2025, the Provincial Government has a total workforce of 4,900 personnel, composed of 3,396 Job Order Workers and Contract of Service (COS), 503 Casual Employees, and 1,001 Plantilla Positions.
In preparation for 2026, the Provincial Government is set to increase its workforce, with particular emphasis on augmenting the number of casual employees, in response to the expanding scope of public service delivery and institutional responsibilities, especially in the healthcare sector.
According to Fredaliza P. Gazo, Provincial Human Resource Management Officer (PHRMO), the recently approved Organizational Management Strengthening Proposal for the Provincial and District Hospitals reflects the Provincial Government’s continued commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services.
“The Organizational Management Strengthening Proposal for the Polomolok Municipal Hospital and Norala District Hospitals has just been approved. This includes the addition of 85 employees for Norala District Hospital and 53 new positions for Polomolok Municipal Hospital,” Gazo explained.
This initiative underscores the Provincial Government’s recognition of the importance of strengthening medical services in the area and the urgent need to increase manpower, she said.
The additional positions are expected to significantly enhance hospital operations, improve service delivery, and ensure adequate staffing to meet increasing patient demands.
PHRMO Gazo emphasized that the planned increase in personnel is a direct response to the steadily expanding responsibilities of local government units, driven by new laws, policies, and national government issuances.
“Over time, the responsibilities and functions assigned through various laws continue to increase. The National Government also regularly issues new mandates that local government units are required to implement. As these legal and policy issuances expand, the responsibilities of government offices likewise grow, making the addition of personnel necessary,” she emphasized.
These developments have placed greater operational demands on provincial offices, necessitating a strategic review and strengthening of human resources.
Gazo clarified that the initiative goes beyond the creation of new positions and includes the abolition and rationalization of positions that have become obsolete or no longer aligned with current operational requirements.
“This effort is not solely about creating new positions. It also involves abolishing positions that have become irrelevant over time. There are departments that have not undergone a comprehensive review since the establishment of the Capitol. Despite the increase in responsibilities, their staffing levels have remained unchanged, resulting in a mismatch between personnel capacity and present-day functions,” she clarified.
Through this organizational review, the Provincial Government aims to ensure that staffing structures are aligned with actual mandates and service demands.
The planned workforce expansion for 2026 highlights the Provincial Government’s commitment to responsive governance, efficient public service delivery, and improved healthcare services. By strategically increasing manpower and rationalizing existing positions, the province seeks to build a more adaptive and effective bureaucracy capable of addressing evolving legal, administrative, and service-oriented challenges.
