Marañon to Vice Guv: No drama in protestof Capitol employees

CEBU, Philippines - The “period of mourning” observed by Capitol employees in Negros Occidental is no drama, said Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Marañon issued the statement following an earlier statement made by Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. who said members of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) are merely acting out. They launched the “period of mourning” after Capitol did not release their bonuses and did not implement the increase to their salary.

“The Capitol employees are already hungry because their salaries are lacking,” Marañon said.

PACE said the benefits of its members were not released after the Provincial Board disapproved the 2013 budget amounting to P2.02 billion last December.

The passage of the 2013 budget is back to “square one” where the Provincial Board’s Committee on Finance, Budget, and Appropriation deliberates on the itemized budget of the more than 25 departments.

The SP has 90 days or from January 1 to March 31 to approve the budget, otherwise the Provincial Capitol will operate on a re-enacted 2012 Budget.

The PACE issued a statement saying Alvarez seems so heartless over their plight by calling their protest action as a “drama.”

“Where is the love?” they asked, referring to the platform agenda of Alvarez called LOVE NEGROS.

Alvarez yesterday said he does not care whatever the Capitol employees think about his comment, because he is more concerned of the Negrenses as a whole.

Aside from the “period of mourning,” the PACE held two sessions of “boodle fight” to dramatize their hunger.

The vice governor said the Capitol employees engaging in these dramatic actions should not have allowed themselves to be used as propaganda tools by some politicians.

He refused to name names, but alluded to Marañon as his political opponent who allegedly use PACE in his propaganda.

Marañon, however, said it’s the employees themselves who are complaining about their benefits.

He said no one told these employees to stage such actions and that it is their right to do so.

Other government employees have received their fourth tranche salary hike and P20,000 extra bonuses, but the Provincial Capitol employees have not.

Some people have more money that is why they cannot feel the plight of poor Capitol employees, Marañon said.

Alvarez said PACE should stop the ‘drama’ because they are aware that they will soon receive their benefits once the 2013 budget gets approved.

“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,” Alvarez said in Hiligaynon last Wednesday.

Alvarez also denied he ordered the removal of black ribbons PACE members have put up at the Capitol premises.

“Wala gani ko kabalo… Indi man ko sentimos… Ano ginansyahon ko? (I have no knowledge about the ribbons. I am not narrow-minded… What will I gain if I do that?),” he said in an interview.

He added that by engaging in these protest actions, the employees are not doing what they should be doing.

The PACE officers said their protest actions will continue until they receive their benefits.

“Despite our clear message to spare us from being a collateral damage to their political intramurals, our voices remain unheard,” the PACE said in a statement. (FREEMAN)