Over 200 DENR-7 contractuals lose jobs

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 no longer renewed the contracts of more than 200 contractual employees starting this year due to poor or unsatisfactory performance following an evaluation.

DENR-7 Information Officer Eddie Llamedo said that most of those affected were from the Land Management Services (LMS), Forest Land Management, and the Administrative Services Division.

Llamedo said that 40 contractual employees  of  LMS, who earlier complained of not having received their salaries since January, were either among those whose contracts were not renewed or that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) did not approve the budget yet.

He said that 30 percent of  DENR’s 700 contractual employees were not rehired starting 2014. DENR-7 has around 500 regular employees.

Downsizing of the number of contractual employees was also part of DENR-7’s approved rationalization plan. DBM, though, has yet to give its approval of DENR-7’s organizational plan.

Under Executive Order 366 series of 2004, DBM was given the power to review rationalization plans submitted by departments and government agencies under the executive branch.

Its overall goal is to make the government focus its efforts on core functions and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of public service.

Under EO 366, or the Government Rationalization Program signed by then president Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo on Oct. 2004, all executive department branches were directed to strategically review operations and provide options and incentives for employees who may be affected.

DENR-7 started its rationalization plan on Sept. 1, 2005.

Llamedo said that with the reduction of their number of workers, DENR-7’s remaining workers have to do multi-tasking. —/RHM (FREEMAN)