For LGU workers Fund for cashing out leave credits used up

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — This year's budget of P3.5 million for the conversion into cash of sick leaves and other leave credits of City Hall employees and officials have been exhausted during the first quarter.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria made this clarification in response to insinuations by City Councilor Antonio Remollo that the city government coffer is already empty. Remollo got mad when his application for the encashment of his leave credits was not processed recently.

Sagarbarria said the city is not bankrupt, and it was only the money set aside for leave credits' conversion that was used up since last March when many employees availed themselves of such benefit.

The mayor said the city has been working within the budget, the use of which shall be done with fairness to all.

In this connection, Sagarbarria in turn raised the issue of unliquidated cash advances by city officials, and he ordered the submission of the list of those who have yet to settle their cash advances.

Remollo, for one, was on top of the list of those with unliquidated cash advances, according to the local finance committee, itemizing the amount into P9,100 in 2007, more than P45,000 in 2008, more than P25,000 in 2009 and P19,916 in 2010.

The list also contained the names of City Accountant Doreen Paulina Bechayda with an unliquidated cash advance of P49,677.02 as of the month of July this year.

Radioman Francis Fenwick Colina Alloso, who was a city councilor several years ago, still had an unliquidated cash advance of P12,340, the committee report said although there was no confirmation yet if the list was trimmed down after last July.