20 city job order workers unpaid since April 2013

CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 job order personnel of the Cebu City government have not been paid their salaries since April last year.

Graciano Lauron, acting head/project-in-charge of Suba-Sawang Calero Fish Port/ Community Scouts, yesterday requested the Cebu City Council to consider the approval of the augmentation and appointment of the 20 job order personnel so they could receive their salaries.

The personnel have rendered security services at Suba, Sawang Calero and Pasil fish ports since January 2013 to prevent anyone from illegally squatting in the area in preparation for the construction of fish port and fish market.

Lauron has requested from Councilor Margot Osmeña's office to realign the amount of P1,267,200 under fidelity bond expenses to security expenses and be given to the JO personnel as salary from  April to December.

The amount covers the 198 days work period at a rate of  P320 per day.

However, the City Council said the JO personnel have no appointment papers and their contract did not pass through the Council.

"There's an identified account to pay the JOs but wala lagi appointment," said Osmeña, who chairs the council's committee on budget and finance.

Lauron, in its letter earlier, claimed that there was an "oversight and lack of monitoring for the said job orders."

"Please note that as a project directed by the Mayor in the implementation of  the 3-meter easement and the conduct of  prevention of illegal structures and settlers, no department/office was tasked to monitor their accomplishments," Lauron said.

Councilor Philip Zafra said that when the order to work was signed last year, said personnel were actually hired during the clearing operations of the fish port at Sawang Calero and other developments in the area but there was no proper appointment or pertinent documents.

Lauron said the JO personnel received their salaries from January to March 2013 and the budget was taken from the peace and order fund of  the General Services Offices (GSO).

"But karon, problema kay wa na'y budget," he said.

Lauron also submitted a manpower request at GSO to be included in its budget but the request was also not yet approved.

The request was for the personnel's salary of  P320 per day for 264 days in 2014, which is equivalent to P1,639,600.

In response, Osmeña said the Council did not include the request for approval.

Following the opposition of  Councilor Alvin Dizon, the Council agreed to create an ad-hoc committee that will look into the employment of the JO personnel. — (FREEMAN)