Rama orders CH employees to observe proper office hours

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered city department heads to properly observe the proper office hour.

In a closed-door meeting with all department heads, Rama cited a report from the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) that show some employees in several departments have been habitually tardy.

Under Civil Service rules, an employee is considered habitually tardy if he or she incurs tardiness, regardless of the number of minutes, 10 times a month for at least two months in a semester or at least two consecutive months during the year. The rules also provide that first offenders get a reprimand; second offenders are meted suspension from one to 30 days, and third offenders are dismissed from the service.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young yesterday showed a report from HRDO one example of habitual tardiness in the city accounting office.

While the city accounting department has shown improvement for the past weeks in its transactions, Young said there are employees who have been habitually tardy in reporting to their work.

“I would like to congratulate Ms. (Marietta) Gumia because their department is improving but I would like to remind the HRD to take action against these erring employees,” Young said.

The vice mayor, who sits as chairman of the City Council, which supervises all employees at the legislative department, vowed to implement professionalism by minimizing if not eliminating mediocrity.

In a separate interview, Gumia confirmed that there are at least 10 employees who have been habitually tardy in their work.

She said a written warnings have already been sent to these employees. — (FREEMAN)