Cebu City dad peeved by claims of ‘ghost workers’

CEBU CITY — City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said "inconvenience" within the ruling party Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) might be the reason why city councilor George Rama announced that he had no intentions of seeking re-election in 2004.

"We’re going through some real inconvenience. He’s doing a good job," he said.

Rama, who chairs the city council’s committee on public services, environment protection and ecology, was reportedly peeved over insinuations that he knew about the "ghost employees" at the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS).

Osmeña, who received an anonymous report claiming that there were DPS employees receiving pay without doing any work, said there are 66 drivers on the payroll of the DPS’ garbage collection division but only 11 trucks are running. He added that it does not take an expert to say that the math does not add up.

According to records, 17 of the 66 drivers are regular employees, while 49 are listed as casuals.

"It is hard to believe that we have so many collectors, we have enough mechanics and only few (trucks) are running. Ask yourself? Maybe he himself is not aware," Osmeña said.

"His supervision of the people is very good but maintenance level of the DPS is very poor," the mayor added.

‘Don’t be sensitive’

Rama was surprised when the mayor informed him about the matter and he felt bad about allegations that he knew about the "ghost employees."

He said DPS drivers work three shifts of eight hours each, while the others are assigned as reserve in cases of emergency.

"He (Rama) should not be sensitive about questions like that. He should take the questions professionally," Osmeña said, adding that he cannot refrain from asking questions just because someone might get upset with him.

Although Rama would not seek re-election in 2004, he assured Osmeña and the BOPK of his full support.

Although the councilor felt bad about the allegations, he said he is taking the criticism in a positive manner.

Earlier, Osmeña publicly admitted that there is a rift between him and some councilors belonging to the BOPK, which sprang from issues that had the mayor and his councilors taking opposing sides.

It started when the BOPK-dominated council snubbed Osmeña’s call for a special session on Jan. 24 to approve the purchase of a Chevrolet Venture worth P950,000.

A few weeks later, the council challenged Osmeña’s release of P32 million in aid to some barangays. — Freeman News Service