LGUs called to reduce workers to give room for disaster body

CEBU, Philippines - Local chief executives are urged to trim down numbers of casual employees and review vacant positions in order to accommodate those who would compose the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

This after concerns regarding the funding for personal services were aired during the first day of the summit of the Provincial DRRMO yesterday.

Department of Budget and Management representative Jose Salvador said mayors raised concern on how to sustain the funding for the DRRM personnel, including the office’s operation, considering there are things to address, such as employees’ bonuses.

“Mao to akong gingnan sila nga ilang tan-awon kanang vacant positions, kay under the law bisan bakante pa na siya butangan man gyud og appropriation. So they have to review if there is a need for that vacant position nga di na gani kinahanglan, i-abolish na siya. Ang salary atong vacant maoy gamiton for the (DRRM personnel),” he said.

“We also encouraged the local chief executives to review (contracts of) their casual employees if there is a need to trim down number of casual employees aron lang ma-accommodate ang positions (DRRM personnel),” he added.

The establishment of LDRRMO and Barangay DRRM Council, which are responsible for setting the implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdictions,is mandated under Republic Act 10121 (PDRRM Act of 2010).

The law provides four mandatory positions that compose the LDRRMO. They are the DRRM officer who will be assisted by three staff responsible for administration and training, research and planning, and operations and warning.

The budgetary requirements for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenditures, and capital outlay of the LDRRMO are sourced from the General Fund of the LGU, as provided in the guidelines of a Joint Memorandum Circular of DBM, Department of Interior and Local Government, National DRRMC and Civil Service Commission.

The memorandum also stated that the enforcement of the budgetary limitations under the Local Government Code will be waived so as to enable the LGUS to fund the initial year requirements for the creation of the minimum four mandatory positions under LDRRMO.

Salvador added, citing provisions in the Local Government Code, that the LGU would have to follow the limitation in the computation of the personal services where first to third class LGUs should not exceed 45 percent and 55 percent for fourth to fifth classes.  (FREEMAN)