City dads reject job order pay

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council disapproved the payment of salaries for 20 job order personnel because they failed to comply with their documentary requirements.

Councilor Hanz Abella, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, which was tasked to look into the concerns of the JOs, reported that the workers failed to comply with the guidelines.

“That (salary) shouldn’t be paid because we might be held liable,” Abella said.

The 20 job order personnel who worked at the Pasil Fish Port earlier sought the council’s help after nine months, from April to December 2013, of not receiving their salaries amounting to over P1 million.

“JOs perform on a certain project and are supposed to be terminated at the end of the project.  We will all be held liable,” said Councilor Gerardo Carillo.

The committee also reported the unavailability of funds following the withdrawal of the measure yesterday and the P1, 267, 200 cannot be augmented to pay the salaries of the said personnel.

 However, the members of the council assured to pay the job order personnel by drafting a new resolution stating the appointment or program of the personnel.

 The said personnel were ordered to maintain peace and order and to secure the said area from illegal squatters in preparation for the construction of new fish port and fish market.

The Pasil Fish Port and market were condemned following the powerful earthquake last Oct. 15.

 â€œWe cannot close our eyes that they cannot receive their due payments,” Abella said.

 Majority Floor Leader Margarita Osmeña agreed saying “no doubt that we should pay those who rendered their services to the city government”.

 â€œBecause of the importance and the need to have these personnel in the vicinity they were asked to continually report and performed their usual duties in their assigned area. Thus, in the interest of fairness, they should be paid their salaries because they have been rendering continued service,” read the committee report. — (FREEMAN)