40 casual workers at City Hall face termination

CEBU, Philippines - At least 40 of the 3,273 casual employees at the City Hall have been recommended for termination by their department heads.

Veronica Morelos, head of City Hall’s Human Resource Doctrine and Development Office (HRDO), said these “incompetent” employees are those who usually reported to work late, have incurred unauthorized absences, and have been previously suspended for various infractions.

She clarified, however, that the recommendations have to be reviewed by a team composed of City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, the mayor’s secretary Belinda Navasquez, and consultant Eugene Elizalde. Morelos is also part of the team.

There were reports that two former members of the Mayor’s Management Team (MMT) are among those recommended for termination. Their contracts will expire on June 30, 2011.

Morelos said that last December 31, 2010, the city also did not renew the contracts of 48 casual employees for various reasons. From January to May this year, 30 City Hall employees resigned from their jobs.   

Mayor Michael Rama earlier assured that even if the casual employees are loyal to Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, they can keep their jobs as long as they are not lazy or corrupt. Rama and Osmeña have severed their ties as political allies this year, which ended with Rama bolting out of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Morelos said that out of the 5,226 Cebu City employees, only 1,282 of them are regular workers. The others are casual employees (3,273), job order employees or those hired for specific jobs (604), contractual employees (45), elected employees (20), and two co-terminus employees or those whose term of service is similar to that of the appointing authority.

Rama earlier urged all casual city employees to reapply for their jobs. As of yesterday, only three of the 3,273 submitted their applications.

“Kadtong wala mo-reapply nagpasabut nga dili na sila gusto nga motrabaho sa City Hall,” Morelos said.

Rama earlier said, “I would like to ask your understanding that if I am not sure that you can work with me under the level of loyalty and confidence, don’t take it against me, just look up yourself at the mirror whether you can trust me, whether you can work with me.” — (FREEMAN)