BPSS News Archive

2018 Health Screening Challenge – Executive Branch

As part of the Worksite Wellness Program, a pilot activity of basic health screening (BMI, glucose, cholesterol, and hypertension levels) was held in late June/early July. Despite dissemination of information about the health screening, less than 4% (=80/1800) of the employees of the Executive branch got screened. The WWC learned from the activity that more awareness and motivation was needed in order for more if not all employees in the Executive Branch to voluntarily get screened. As such, the WWC in conjunction with the Office of the President with funding from the Government of India is holding a Health Screening Challenge. This challenge is open to all Ministries under the Executive Branch, where the Ministry with the highest percentage of employees screened during the Month of October will win $1,500 cash prize during the Annual Employee Appreciation Celebration event in November. There are also three challenges with consolation prizes that reward Ministries and/or departments (Bureaus/agencies) who demonstrate: (1) Overcoming Challenges (during the Health Screening Challenge), (2) that they have been a Champion during the “Adopt-a-Neighborhood Walk and Pick” times, and/or they have the (3) “Most Innovative Programs” that target improving the health and wellness of employees. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage Executive Branch employees to know their basic health status levels and to be motivated and encouraged to seek programs and services to improve their overall health and wellness. We believe that this is the first step in achieving the overall goal of improving government employee health and wellness.

BPSS (on behalf of Worksite Wellness Committee) Awarded $10K for Health and Wellness Program

The Bureau of Public Service System is proud to announce that the Bureau on behalf of the Worksite Wellness Committee (WWC) applied for and was awarded $10,000 Year of Good Health Small Grants Program to conduct health screenings for all Executive Branch employees. This is exciting news as health screening is one of the major steps in improving health and wellness of employees. Employees of the Executive Branch spend at least 8 hours of their day at work, ranging from Administrative work to labor intensive type of work. This leaves very little room to focus on health improvement and management. As part of the Worksite Wellness Program Policy developed by the WWC, there will be a Health Screening Challenge that will be used to encourage and motivate employees in the Executive Branch to get screened for their Body Mass Index (BMI), Cholesterol (LDL and HDL) levels, Blood Pressure, and their Glucose levels. The Ministry with the highest percentage of employees who get screened and/or get a physical/medical check-up will win and receive a prize (TBD) that will be awarded at the Employee Appreciation Day (date TBD). There will also be consolation prizes that award departments who overcome major challenges to motivate their employees to be screened, who are dedicated and innovative with the Adopt-a Neighborhood program, and who have Innovative Health and Wellness Programs. More information and details are forthcoming in terms of the challenges. In the meantime, contact your HR or WWC Point of Contact within your Ministry for more information about the Worksite Wellness Policy!

MOF Monthly Walk & Pick Adopted Highway

On June 29th, employees from the Ministry of Finance met bright and early at 6 am to walk from Dngeronger to T-Dock. Thank you for all who were able to participate. Until next month!

Executive Branch Worksite Wellness Program

In line with the Year of Good Health, the Executive Branch is launching an exciting Work-site Wellness Program for all employees of the Executive Branch beginning with free health screenings for all employees. All Executive Branch employees are urged to walk in at any of the venues listed in the flyer to have their blood pressure, glucose level, cholesterol level, BMI level, and stress level checked.

Ministry of Finance Employees Join the 15th Annual Palau Marathon Races

Six strong Ministry of Finance women joined more than 90 participants at the 15th Annual Palau Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K Race last weekend April 7, 2018. The Half Marathon is a 13.10 Mile course that starts at the bottom of the hill in Aimeliik all the way to the Finish Line at the Palau Pacific Resort (PPR) Beach. The 10K Run is a 6.20 Mile course that begins at the KB Shell in Airai to the PPR Beach. There were more than 96 Registered Participants including several off-island runners. One of the off-island runner was a 68 year old 3 Time cancer survivor who has broken the world record of running marathons in the most countries around the world! What was more amazing about this race for the Ministry of Finance Family is that there were six Ministry of Finance employees who joined the race, including Director Gail Rengiil (BNT), Director Umerang Imetengel (BPSS), Chief Noria Manahane (BNT), Chief Terra Nabeyama (BPSS), Eleanor Anderson (BNT), and Warang Ulechong (BNT). Not only did these ladies participate in the race, several of the women actually placed in their Age Groups:

– Warang Ulechong: 3rd Place in the 10K Ages 17-30
– Eleanor Anderson: 2nd Place in the 10K Ages 51+
– Umerang Imetengel: 2nd Place in the Half Marathon Ages 31-40

Moreover, these six women are regulars at the HIVE High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts held every Tuesday and Thursday each week at the SDA basketball court. All of these ladies agree that the workouts and camaraderie of the workout group has helped them improve their health and fitness abilities, and furthermore has had positive impact on their personal and professional lives. This is a strong indication that the workouts are helping to improve the lives and abilities of our employees!

PRESS RELEASE: KUPU Launches Pacific Resiliency Fellowship Program

New Conservation and Sustainability Fellowship to Develop Next Generation of Leaders in Hawai‘i and Island Communities throughout the Pacific

Kupu, Hawai‘i’s leading conservation and youth education organization, has announced that it will be launching the Pacific Resiliency Fellows (PRF) program in April 2018. The new fellowship program will target early-‐ to mid-‐career conservation and sustainability professionals across the Pacific region, and will provide mentorship, networking, field-‐based learning, professional development training and opportunities.

“We are looking forward to supporting the growth of a culture of conservation and sustainability through the Pacific Resiliency Fellows program,” said John Leong, Kupu CEO. “By engaging, empowering and connecting the next generation of community leaders, we can better protect our environment and enable those who are building more sustainable and resilient communities in Hawai‘i and across the Pacific.”

Read the complete PRESS RELEASE HERE.

A fully outline Program Description is available HERE as well as the contact information regarding the Pacific Resiliency Fellows Program

Training on Managing Time and People held from August 28 – September 1, 2017

Last week, more than 45 Government management and employees successfully completed a five (5) day course on “Managing Time and People: Strategies for Increasing your Effectiveness” provided by the US Graduate School/Pacific Island Training Initiative (PITI) and coordinated by the Bureau of Public Service System (Ministry of Finance). The course was facilitated by Mr. Peter Coursey, an educator and leader in both public and private sectors with more than 30 years of experience in various US Federal Government agencies and a Forbes Platinum 400 company. The 5-day course combined practical tips for planning and managing time and people. Participants learned about how to make the most of their time to achieve their goals and make the most impact with their staff. The participants should now be able to complete the following fundamentals:

Recognize time waters
Implement practical time management strategies
Use a project planning tool
Diagnose the management needs of individual staff and/or groups
Adjust their managerial approach to be most efficient and effective
Identify key actions in each phase of the performance management cycle.

The participants were also able to develop “SMART” Goals and projects that would benefit the communities they serve. One of such project is for the Ministry of Finance to develop a similar management training that will be provided to all Government agencies in the near future. On the last day, the Minister of Finance joined the participants to award Certificate of Completions to all 45 participants. Below is a list of the participants who were able to complete the program. If you or your department requires specific training, please contact the Chief of Human Resources of the BPSS – Chief Terra Sairong Nabeyama at 488-4776 or email bpss@palaugov.org to discuss.

DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC

Incident Command, Darnelle W. Decherong, of the Ministry of Health has issued a memorandum declaring a Dengue Fever Epidemic. It reads as follows:

“In response to the epidemic of Dengue Fever virus currently affecting all States of Palau and in order to provide the Ministry of Health and other appropriate officials with all authorities necessary to prevent further transmissions of Dengue; I hereby declare activation of Ministry of Health Hospital and Public Health emergency to ensure that we are prepared to deal with any further cases in which the public has been exposed to the virus or worst case.

Due to the steep rise in dengue cases, 195 lab confirmed cases since November of 2016, with May 2017 alone, confirmed cases maxed at 45 with three (3) deaths in the past months. A majority of the cases received at the hospital are Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (Virus is causing blood vessels to leak fluid into the lungs causing difficulty breathing) which require further urgent public mobilization.

All efforts through the Bureau of Public Health to ensure the community is provided appropriate information to prevent getting dengue or spreading infections is ongoing. Public Service announcements, Meetings with State leaders, Koror State Government and other agencies continues as we mobilize resources to enhance surveillance, community wide clean-up and prevention measures.

The Ministry of Health activated its Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) on May 24, 2017 to organize the Incident Command System (ICS) and on May 25, 2017, Bureau of Public Health EOP was activated as well to strengthen and have unified front to combat this emergency Dengue Outbreak operation.”

Declaration of Dengue Fever memo

It is vital that we work together & solve this epidemic. Here are a few things that you can do to keep yourself safe and help prevent further outbreak:

Stay in air-conditioned or well screened-housing
Wear protective clothing
Use mosquito repellent
Reduce mosquito habitat

Palau Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Week Walk for Life Event

Please join the Palau Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Week Walkathon event on Saturday, May 20th! There is no registration fee for this event and the first 100 Finishers get a FREE T-Shirt! This is a family friendly event, so please invite your family & friends.

Statement of Zero Tolerance for Fraud and Corruption

In a powerful statement released by Honorable Minister Elbuchel Sadang of the Ministry of Finance, we are reminded of the Republic of Palau National Government’s zero tolerance principle in regards to Fraud and Corruption. Minister Sadang writes “As signatory to the legally binding United Nations Convention against Corruption, Palau condemns and fights corruption as a key driver of poverty, environmental degradation and bad governance. Accountability in the management of public finances must be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption in particularly critical areas of the public sector such as public procurement. Parties to the Convention are required to criminalize specific acts including active bribery of a national, international or foreign public official; passive bribery of a national public official; and embezzlement of public funds. Other mandatory crimes include obstruction of justice and the concealment, conversion or transfer of criminal proceeds (money laundering).”

Minister Sadang also quotes 33 PNC, Section 603 (Palau Code of Ethics Act) and Public Service System Rules and Regulations to provide clarity on what is prohibited.

In his closing remarks, Minister Sadang calls “upon all government employees to be careful custodians of the public funds and assets placed in our care, managing them with stringent honesty and transparency and constantly seeking the most cost-effective solutions, even at the price of personal inconvenience.“

We must always remember that it is our duty, as civil servants of Palau’s National Government and Citizens of the Republic of Palau, to ensure that we treat our colleagues, partners, supporters and suppliers with honesty and integrity. This includes, but isn’t limited to, ensuring that public funds (time, equipment, property, etc) are utilized and protected accordingly.

Read the Complete Statement of Zero Tolerance for Fraud and Corruption.

POST-GRAD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN CLIMATE ACTION to the STATE PARTIES OF UNFCCC FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA

The Scholarships are being offered as part of the Government of Malta’s commitment under the Climate Finance Package to provide support for capacity building in developing States. Whilst capacity building is often associated with infrastructural projects, Malta believes that the formation of professionals within a community is the most essential step in this process of emancipation from an excessive and long-term dependence on external expertise. Consequently, the Government of Malta wishes to provide assistance to developing states on an equally fundamental aspect of capacity building, namely the empowerment of human resources in developing States through funding scholarships for academic learning and research at the post graduate level.

Applicants need to have submitted their application online and provided copies of their academic qualifications and all other requested documentation to the University of Malta by the 5th May 2017.

Information is available at: http://www.um.edu.mt/registrar/prospective/admissions

PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Bureau of Public Service System (BPSS) meets with Palau National Scholarship Board (PNSB)

The Director of the Bureau of Public Service System, Ms. Umerang Imetengel, along with the Chief of Human Resource, Ms. Sairong Nabeyama and WIOA Employee, Ms. Ingrid Mariur, met with the Chairman of the Palau National Scholarship Board, Dr. Christopher Kitalong on January 31^st, 2017.

As the Bureau that is in charge of recruitment and hiring, BPSS hopes to further strengthen its relationship with PNSB in streamlining the process of hiring Palauans who are fresh out of college and those who live abroad and wish to relocate home. This collaboration signifies the importance and need for the Government, as well as the private sector, to attract and retain qualified individuals for the growing Palau workforce. The meeting proved beneficial to both parties and provides an excellent starting point to a sustainable working relationship. There will be more meetings in the future with the main goal of helping Palauans and Palauan students abroad.

Email questions or suggestions to bpss@palaugov.org

Temporary Hazardous Work Justification Form

The Director of the Bureau of Public Service System has approved the use of the “Temporary Hazardous Justification Form” (BPSS-2017-02) for the application of Temporary Hazardous Pay of eligible employees. If you have any questions about the use of this form, please contact BPSS at bpss@palaugov.org or 488-4776 or 767-2415.

PPSCC Working Group Meets in PNG

The successful completion of the 13th Pacific Public Service Commissioners Conference (PPSCC) in Palau led to a decision by the Commissioners and Heads of Public Service for a small working group to meet later this year to decide on a way forward for the Conference. The Conference body decided that the small working group would consist of three (3) member states, one from Micronesia (Republic of Palau), Polynesia (Samoa), and Melanesia (Papua New Guinea). The Director of the Bureau of Public Service System represented Palau in the Small Working Group.

The Small Working Group met in Papua New Guinea from November 26 – November 28, 2016. The three day meeting was very successful and led to a detailed framework that included a renaming the conference to “Pacific Public Services [Leaders] Governance Enhancement Forum.” …… (read more)

Division of Marine Law Enforcement: On the Job Training Program

The Division of Marine Law Enforcement with the assistant and support of Nippon Foundation, will be conducting an OJT (On the Job Training) Program for the following Positions. Due to the availability of assistance, training program is available to cover 10 individuals. Interested individual(s) with basic experiences, skills and knowledge in:

Boat Seamanship
Boat Engineering
Boat Electrician

may obtain the application form at the Division of Marine Law Enforcement at Malakal, Koror.

Please click HERE for more information!

PROCUREMENT: Information & Forms

In accordance with 40PNC §608, the Procurement office for the purchase of goods shall be the Chief of Property and Supply Division, the Procurement Officer for construction and architectural and engineering contract shall be the Director of Public Works. The Procurement Officer for the purchase of contractual service shall be the Director of the Bureau of Public Service System. As such, the Procurement Officer for Contractual Services is excited to share the Procedures and Checklist for Procurement of Services. Please find attached 2 documents that will hopefully assist all Departments with their procurement needs. Effective today November 9, 2016 all respective Departments requiring procurement of services that is over $10,000 is required to complete the “Procurement Request Cover Sheet”. If you shall have any questions and/or need clarification, please contact the Procurement Officer (Director) at bpss@palaugov.org.

Please click on FORMS for more useful resources!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please take a moment to browse through the list of FAQ that BPSS has put together. As always, feel free to contact our office if you have any further questions or require clarification.

Click HERE to see the list of FAQ

MEDIA RELEASE! 13th Pacific Public Service Commissioners’ Conference to Meet In Palau

The Ministry of Finance is proud to announce that Palau will host the 13th Pacific Public Service Commissioners’ Conference (PPSCC) from August 2 to 4, 2016. This annual conference is organized by the Bureau of Public Service System of the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Pacific Island Centre for Public Administration (PICPA) of the University of the South Pacific (USP). As the host country, Palau is required to manage the in-country logistical arrangements for the Conference and ensure that the resources and arrangements required for an efficient and effective meeting are all in place. Please click on the link below to read more about the media release.

Ministry of Finance: PPSCC Media Release

Public Policy Analysis and Implementation

The Bureau of Public Service System is excited to announce an opportunity to attend the first Public Policy Analysis and Implementation Workshop facilitated by Mata’afa Dr. Desmond U. Amosa, Regional Adviser at the Pacific Islands Centre of Public Administration (PICPA) of the University of South Pacific. This four-day workshop targets senior officials (Director, Chief, and Administrator Level) in the public service who are mainly responsible for conducting public policy analysis and advice. The main aim is to address the gaps in policy analysis in order for policy analysts to adopt an approach that adds value to policy analysis. Please read the memo link below for more information!

Public Policy Analysis and Implementation Workshop Memo

Career Matters! – Palau National Youth Forum 2016

The Youth Forum took place in Ngarachamayong Cultural Center from March 9th to 11th.

BPSS, on behalf of MOF, partnered up with WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and Job Corps to better explain the different opportunities that the youth have at their disposal.

Along with our partners, BPSS also invited several individuals who are currently in the Palauan workforce (both Public Service and the Private Sector) to be part of the panel to share their stories about their background, their careers, and motivate the youth to make the right decisions today for a better tomorrow. The panel members included: the Minister of Finance (Elbuchel Sadang), Ms. Josephine Ulengchong, WIOA Executive Director, Ms. Inez Remengesau, MCCA Administrative Assistant and POC for the Job Corps program, Ms. Brengyei Katosang, Private Attorney, Mr. Toktang Akitaya, Chief of the Division of Marine Transportation (MPIIC), Mr. Anthony Rudimch, Civil Engineer (PPUC), Mr. Timothy Udui, ICT Programmer (MOF), and Ms. Bengkal Imeong, HRIS Administrator (MOF).

BPSS is working on an internship program for the youth participants who expressed their interest with getting work experience during the summer. If you have any creative ideas about this and other opportunities, please contact us at bpss@palaugov.org.

BPSS, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, would like to thank the panel members for their time, the information they shared, and the inspirational stories to the youth!

And a SPECIAL THANKS to Customs’ K9 unit and DUKE for the wonderful show and tell. We all enjoyed it immensely!

Office of Citizen Job Placement

NEW! EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION FORM – Government and Private Sector

There is a new EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION available under forms that can be used by job seekers of both the Government and the Private Sector.

Please make sure to provide 2 copies of your applications and any supporting documents if you’re interested in applying for government jobs or private companies. The application is available in a pdf form that you can fill right on your computer.

Click here to save/access the employment application form.

Application forms are still available through our offices in Ngerulmud or in Koror. Please feel free to email or call us if you have any questions.

BPSS Employee Information Security & Data Protection Policy

This is to inform you that the Bureau of Public Service System (BPSS) has implemented a new policy called the Employee Information Security & Data Protection Policy. This policy aims to ensure security of all employee information (hard copy and electronic) that is passed through, handled, and maintained by BPSS. In addition, this policy aims at improving information transmittal, saving resources and time by promoting the use of and transmittal of electronic documents.

Old Procedure:

Previously, when your department submits a Personnel Action Form (PAF), it [should have] included 4 copies to be distributed to: 1)BPSS, 2)Payroll, 3)Department and 4)Employee. After all authorization and certification is completed and entered into the system, BPSS then distributes the last 3 copies to the appropriate departments/employee.

New Procedure:

BPSS will now only require one (1) completed copy of a PAF. When the PAF has been completed and entered into the system, BPSS will scan the document as a PDF file and email it to the requesting department’s Point of Contact (POC). The original PAF will be filed in the employees personnel folder located in the BPSS office in Ngerulmud.

What we need from you:

BPSS now requires a Point of Contact (POC) for each department. Whomever your department assigns as the Point of Contact needs to sign a Non-disclosure Agreement from BPSS. Please make sure that the email address you provide is an official departmental email i.e. bpss@palaugov.org . Personal emails are strictly prohibited.

Once you assign a POC and an email address, documentations such as PAF or WGI’s will be emailed directly to your department for you to save and distribute to the employee in question. It will be your department’s responsibility to make sure your employee receives their copy.

An updated Personnel Action Form will be available on our website. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact BPSS at 767-2501. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation on this matter.

– Director Umerang Imetengel & BPSS Staff

Moylan’s Insurance – Home of the Good Guys and Gals

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Palau, BPSS would like to congratulate Moylan’s insurance on winning the bid for worker’s compensation insurance.

What is a worker’s compensation?

Worker’s Compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment… (wikipedia.com)

What should you do if you’re injured on the job?

If you’re ever injured while on the job, please contact your supervisor immediately to document it and take the proper steps to get in touch with an employee at Moylan’s.

Moylan’s Contact Information:

(680) 488-2761/2765
palau@moylans.net

EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR – 2015

Lilian Masaharu – Senior Accountant – MOF

Moline Smaserui – Historical Preservation Specialist I – MCCA

Dianne Brewer-Jayson – Administrative Officer II – MOJ

Celson Tekriu – Maritime Safety Officer II – MPIIC

Marcella Olwachel – M.E.S. Cook – MOE

Lili Ann U. Demei – Foreign Service Officer – MOS

John Ngirailild – PMDC Senior Technician and Hatchery Foreman – MNRET

George Kinto – Maintenance/Landscaper – MOH

Kaleb S. Dulei – Staff Assistant – President’s Office

Dina Sandei – Administrative Assistant I – Vice President’s Office

Congratulations to you all and thank you for your continued hard work!

Ministry of Justice: Law Enforcement Reclassification

The Bureau of Public Service System worked vigorously with the Ministry of Justice during the end of the FY 2015 on classifying new and reclassifying existing law enforcement positions within the Ministry. The re-classification project led to a BPSS Directive No.: 2015-08 approved and signed by the Director of the Bureau of Public Service System on September 30, 2015. In addition to the re-classification project, the MOJ in collaboration with the BPSS developed a Classification Guideline for MOJ’s Law Enforcement Officers. This new classification guideline was approved and executed by the President of the Republic of Palau, Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. through Executive Order No.: 384. The main goal of the re-classification project and establishment of a MOJ Law Enforcement Classification Guideline was to attract and retain qualified law enforcement officials through appropriately compensation. The reclassification and the new Class Guide became effective on October 1^st, 2015.