For Jo workers’ salaries, Rama insists use of calamity funds

CEBU, Philippines - Despite an adverse recommendation by state auditors, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has insisted that charging the salaries of some job order employees to the calamity fund is justifiable.

He reiterated what the city told the Commission on Audit that the concerned workers are assigned to disaster-related jobs.

In a review of Cebu City Hall’s 2013 transactions, COA found out that the city spent P12.4 million from the calamity fund to pay for the salaries of several job order workers, which it said as “irregular.”

“The utilization of the subject funds for payment of the salaries of job order workers was irregular since it was outside the purpose which the five percent calamity fund was intended. Moreso, these charges are not among those contemplated to be part of the disaster risk management activities,” COA said.

State auditors cited Section 21 of Republic Act 10121, which provides that the calamity fund shall be used only for disaster risk management activities, to support other affected Local Government Units, and as quick response and standby fund for relief and recovery programs.

“Who will operate the machineries and equipment to do clearing operations, to do relief operations, to do search and rescue operations, to conduct information dissemination and educational campaigns to the community on safety measures and practices? The job of medical responders cannot be done by machines but by people,” the mayor said in justifying what the city did.

He said no disaster-related activities could be done “if there are no people on the ground to do the task of disaster preparation, prevention, mitigation and risk-reduction, prior, during and after every calamity.”

Rama cited the collision of MV Thomas Aquinas and MV Sulpicio Express Siete  at Lawis Ledge near Talisay City last October 16, where it were the job order workers assigned to do disaster-related jobs who responded and helped the sea mishap victims. — (FREEMAN)