Former worker demands P840T from city

CEBU, Philippines - A former utility worker of the Cebu City Government is demanding payment from the city for his unpaid salaries from 2001 to 2009 amounting to over P840,000.

Alberto del Mar, who worked at City Hall from 1986 to 2009 wrote to the council for the inclusion of his claim in the next budget.

It was learned that the Civil Service Commission ruled on his favor in 2011 yet but he has not been paid up to this time.

The CSC granted his petition to collect from the Cebu City Government his unpaid salaries including benefits and bonus from 2001 to 2009 after the CSC declared him an employee of the city hall and not of the Association of Barangay Councils.

Del Mar sought the help of the CSC after the City Government’s Employee-Management Committee on Inquiry (EMCOI) denied his claim because it believes he is not a city hall employee.

As per findings by the CSC, del Mar was appointed by then OIC Mayor John H. Osmeña.

His employment with the city is further supported by the Notices of Salary Adjustments he received signed by either the past city administrators and mayors.

The ABC also were not able to present documents of del Mar’s employment. The EMCOI also failed to submit the documents the CSC required.

Del Mar, however, was able to submit proof that the city government has always been his employer.

His item is a Utility Worker II at the City Treasurer’s Office. Since employment though, he has been assigned to the ABC.

His salaries were also charged against the ABC account which could have caused the confusion.

The city believes that del Mar is an employee of the ABC and as per Department of Labor and Employment order, the employees of ABC, a non-government organization, is not an employee of the local government unit, thus, not eligible to receive payment from the LGU.

Del Mar stopped receiving salary from the city in 2001 when he was reassigned to the Property Section of the Mayor’s Office allegedly due to political reasons.

Since the city stopped paying him his salary despite his constant follow-up, he sought the help of the CSC to clear the matter.

In an order dated December 5, 2011, CSC Director IV Judith D. Chicano ruled in favor of Del Mar and asked the city to pay him his unpaid salaries.

The CSC also advised the city to clarify their employees’ appointment as this was not the first time an employee of the city complained before them of the same problem. —/MBG (FREEMAN)