LGU holds onboarding program for new hirees

By Franshen Rochelle A. Estrella

The City Government of Naga conducted its first-ever Onboarding Program for newly hired employees, equipping them with the knowledge, values, and tools necessary to effectively serve the public and contribute to the city’s development goals.

The onboarding program aims to help new employees properly integrate into the daily operations of the local government by introducing them to the city’s policies, employee benefits, workplace expectations, and organizational goals. It also serves as an avenue to familiarize participants with key government standards and practices that guide public service.

Among the program’s objectives are the application of the Eight Norms of Conduct under Republic Act No. 6713 in daily work, alignment of Individual Performance Commitment and Review (IPCR) targets with the City’s 2028 Finish Lines, understanding Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules and local policies, and practicing Completed Staff Work (CSW) to improve the accuracy and efficiency of outputs.

Sieglinde Borromeo–Bulaong, Operations head of the City Human Resource Management Office (CHRMO), said that the initiative addresses a long-standing gap in employee orientation within the city government. “For the longest time there has been no onboarding program in the City Hall. We created this for newly hired employees so they can be properly integrated into the daily processes of the city government,” she explained.

The program was developed in response to recurring concerns involving employee compliance and disciplinary issues, which were often linked to a lack of awareness of existing policies and regulations. “There have been many complaints and disciplinary cases because some employees are not aware of the policies. That is one of the gaps we are addressing.” She claimed that after the said program they expect participants to be more equipped, updated, and informed.

Beyond policy orientation, the onboarding program seeks to foster a stronger sense of unity among employees by helping them understand how their individual roles contribute to the broader goals of the city government.

She noted that employees often work within their respective offices without fully understanding how their responsibilities connect to the city’s overall development agenda, through the on-boarding program she stated that “Through the onboarding program, they will understand the City’s 2028 Finish Lines and recognize how they can contribute to achieving them.” She then expressed her hope to be united in contributing to the goals of the City Government of Naga.

The initiative directly supports Vision 8: An Efficient, Agile, and Citizen-Focused Local Government, one of the city’s 2028 Eight Finish Lines. By clarifying employee roles, expectations, benefits, and responsibilities, the program empowers personnel to perform their duties more effectively and confidently.

“When employees clearly understand their roles, the policies they need to follow, and the benefits available to them, they become more comfortable in their day-to-day work and are able to perform better. They should not only know their job descriptions but also understand what is expected of them as members of this organization. Once you know that, you become truly empowered,” Bulaong said.

As the city’s first formal onboarding initiative, organizers hope the program will become a regular component of employee development and help cultivate a more informed, accountable, and service-oriented workforce.

She expressed optimism that participants will carry forward the lessons learned from the program in their daily work and interactions with the public. “Now that our new employees have a clearer understanding of the city’s policies, direction, and workplace expectations, we are confident that they and the City Government will become better partners in serving the people of Naga,” she concluded.