Cebu gov’t willing to grant back COLA if…

CEBU — The provincial government is willing to give its employees 10 years worth of back cost of living allowance (COLA) if the court orders it to do so.

Capitol consultant on information Pablo John Garcia said the administration of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is willing to give qualified provincial employees their back COLA provided they ask for it legally like some government employees who were granted back pay by the Supreme Court.

Garcia said the granting of back COLA by the Supreme Court applies only to those who sought for such relief as in the case of the employees of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The Provincial Employees Association of Cebu, headed by Diosdado Cayme, wrote the governor requesting that the Capitol grant them their back COLA.

The letter came with a copy of the Supreme Court decision on the PPA case and a resolution approved by the provincial board of Sarangani granting the same to its employees.

Cayme said they would ask a provincial board member to sponsor a resolution on the matter, adding that they may also go to court.

He, however, said the directive of President Arroyo to the Department of Budget and Management to coordinate with the Department of Labor and Employment for the release of over P1 billion as back COLA was for all government employees.

The granting of COLA was approved in 1989, but was suspended in 1999 due to lack of publishing requirements. — Freeman News Service