“Period of Mourning” in Bacolod Capitol workers cry overpending bonus, wage hike

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The 2,300 employees of the Negros Occidental government have declared a “period of mourning” pending the release of their salary increase and P20,000 extra bonuses due to the non-approval of the P2.02-billion budget for 2013.

The officers and members of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) said the “period of mourning” will last until they receive their salary hike, as mandated by law, and their extra bonuses.

PACE chairman Ruben Diamante said they hang black cloths around the premises of the Provincial Capitol and have been wearing something black since Wednesday to dramatize their “mourning.” Earlier they also held two sessions of “boodle fight” to dramatize their hunger due to the unreleased benefits.

Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr., during the Provincial Board session yesterday, described as “drama” the act of the employees. “That’s already a drama. If they don’t like what I’m saying that’s okay but they should not have turned it into a drama,” Alvarez said in the dialect.

Alvarez said the Capitol employees engaging in these dramatic actions should not have allowed themselves to be used as propaganda tools by some politicians. He said PACE should understand that the reason for the disapproval of the proposed 2013 Budget was that the PB wanted to correct or straighten it first due to many deficiencies.

“Once corrected, it will redound to the benefit of the whole Negros Occidental,” said Alvarez, adding that he could not sacrifice the entire population of Negrenses over the interest of at least 2,000 Capitol employees. “One thing I can assure you, the budget will be approved, the bonuses will be released, the loans will be paid, and hopefully, the bonuses will double in December,” he said.

Alvarez and PB Member Pedro Zayco however told The Freeman yesterday they are joining the Capitol employees in their period of mourning, because the PB as well as the governor, also have not received their salary increases.

Alvarez clarified though that he is just the presiding officer of PB sessions, and its members are the ones who vote for either approval or denial of the budget.

The PB, consisting of members deemed allies of Alvarez, had disapproved the 2013 budget, as proposed by Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr, who alleged that the delay of its passage was politically motivated. Alvarez and Marañon are pitted against each other for the gubernatorial post in the coming elections.

Alvarez however said that, to protect the interests of Negrenses, the PB sent the budget measure back to the PB finance committee for further review. PB Member Salvador Escalante, commmittee chairman, said they are currently reviewing the budget of five more big departments and it may take two to three weeks before his committee can submit to the PB a report on the review for approval.

The PACE officers and members said they have repeatedly appealed to the PB for the approval of the 2013 budget, for which their salary increases and bonuses depend on, but all their efforts have fallen on deaf ears.

“Despite our clear message to spare us from being a collateral damage to their political intramurals, our voices remain unheard,” they said, adding that, amid threats of reprisal, they were only invoking their rights.  (FREEMAN)