Political war threatens jobs of 95 JOs

CEBU, Philippines - Around 95 job order workers for a research project sponsored by the legislative department may become the latest casualty of the widening political gap between Talisay City officials.

In a two-page letter, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante sought Mayor Johnny De los Reyes' endorsement of job order workers for the Legislative Research and Codification Project.

Villarante, the council presiding officer, was specifically asking for the issuance of punch cards and entry cards of the workers.

De los Reyes confirmed receiving the request but is not bent on approving the same right away.

"Nadawat na nako pero ako pang tan-awon kung angayan bang hatagan. Dili na mahimo nga mag-angay-angay tang tanan kay sa una bitaw kung pila ilang pangayo-on ako mang-ihatag. Angay man gani ilang mga job orders pero sige man gihapon og reklamo," De los Reyes said.

De los Reyes also brought up his hiring of confidential job order personnel, over which he was "maliciously accused" of hiring more than 300 confidential job order personnel for the executive department. Later, he said, it was found out that only actually 52 and not 304 confidential employees were hired as reflected in the payroll.

Based on the records at the City Accounting Office, there are 45 confidential job order employees from working for the executive branch in Talisay City and seven for the legislative department.

Villarante, however, admitted that only the mayor has the authority to hire casual employees not provided for in the sanggunian plantilla and those hired through job order contracts.

"Maglisod gyud mi if dili mopirma siya sa akong request. Ang ubang job orders nga naa sa among office karon are working without salary now kay wala pa man sila'y punch cards," Villarante said.

The contentious issue on job order contracts at the City Hall might be resolved through another case that should be filed at the court, according to the vice mayor.

DILG Opinion No. 17, series of 2010, states that while vice mayor appoints employees whose salaries are paid out of funds appropriated for the sanggunian and included in its plantilla, the mayor has the authority to hire casual employees not provided for in the sanggunian plantilla and hired through job order contracts. 

He also cited a Commission on Audit decision that quoted DILG Opinion No. 31, saying "notwithstanding the place of assignment to where these job order employees would render service, or from whose fund the payment of wages of these employees were sourced, the power to sign the corresponding job order contract of these employees remained in the mayor."

Both opinions were likewise based on the High Court decision in GR No. 161081 (Atienza v. Villarosa).

Villarante said the position for Legislative Research and Codification Project is very essential and critical to the operation and performance of the legislative department, specifically to the Vice Mayor's Office.

"Your immediate favorable action to this request will greatly help in the performance of the functions of legislative department, even as you will be able to help the concerned job order workers throughout the year," Villarante addressed De los Reyes in his letter-request. (FREEMAN)