Unpaid JO workers seeking salary pay

CEBU, Philippines — The previous administration of Cebu City is facing claims of unpaid salaries involving five job order (JO) employees, with allegations that they were required to get an “endorsement” first from former councilor and Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) chairman Joey Daluz for an appointment tied to their payment of wages.

Last Wednesday, two former JO employees of Cebu City Hall—who requested anonymity—came forward to the media to raise these grievances. They further expressed that they felt exploited during the election and haven’t been paid for their hard work.

Speaking on behalf of three others, the two workers narrated that they were hired in October 2024 under the Coastal Management Board (CMB), with the promise that they would receive salaries for November and December. According to them, all five of them were approached by their focal person in the barangay.

They added that they were enticed to join, as others had already been hired under the Barangay Affairs Office (BAO), and those salaries were paid on time. “Giignan rami nga nang hire og JO. Eager kaayo mi,” one of them said.

They were paid their entitled wages for around two months under the CMB, which amounted to about P500 per day or around P10,000 per month. Their job descriptions included assisting with the distribution of aid for senior citizens and vendors, among others, in the barangays.

“Wala mi nag expect nga di na to ma-continue kay padung baya election,” they further said.

By January, they were told to get another endorsement for their appointment, as the CMB refused to take them in. It was at this time that they were informed the endorsement must come from Daluz, which led to their transfer to the office of Gubat sa Baha, with the same job responsibilities.

They said they had no idea why the endorsement had to go through Daluz, but they added it was Daluz who would decide which department they would be assigned to.

“Unya sige mi’g follow-up, giignan rami nga gi-process, gi-process, so naabot mi’g January, February, sige ra mi’g ingnan nga gi-process na,” they narrated.

When March came, they were told that their endorsement for appointment was “misplaced.” At that point, they decided to file another appointment request. However, they were informed that a memorandum was issued mandating the “No appointment, No work” policy. This made them hesitant to continue their service.

When they consulted their barangay focal person, they were further assured that their endorsement had already been filed. Despite this, they continued to report and render service until April. They added that they were told that if they decide to continue in May, it would be voluntarily, meaning they would no longer be paid.

“Pero pag padung na’g election, kana laging makuan lagi kay kanang naa naka dinha, bahala na’g og kanang niingon ra nga wa’y bayad,” they lamented.

In line with this, these JO employees said they couldn’t help but feel that they were hired and exploited for election purposes. Specifically, they explained that they were ordered to help in the distribution of livelihood aid and other assistance during the “hand-shaking activities” of the candidates of the previous administration and their party around March.

“Pakuyogon nami sa handshaking…mu guide mi nga anha mi agi,” they narrated, though they stressed that this occurred in only one barangay they were familiar with.

They also found it suspicious that the distributions were suddenly cut off immediately after the election, adding that the remaining wave of aid was never carried out.

As of this writing, they said they are still waiting to be paid at least P40,000, which they claim represents four months of unpaid service.

Daluz, when sought for his reaction, clarified that he was asked by then-mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to endorse names for the hiring of JO employees. He said he only knew that those he endorsed were able to work until December last year and had not been updated about their status, from January 2025 onward.

“I don't think my endorsement carries so much weight nga ma-hire sila, because I am not connected sa City Hall,” said Daluz.

“I was running (for election) that time, nga kuyog mi ni mayor. Maybe ang ako’ng endorsement that time was very strong,” he added.

Daluz further said his endorsement does not guarantee an appointment. He clarified, though, that forwarding an endorsement for employment in City Hall is a normal practice—not just by him, but also by other councilors.

Daluz said he was informed that the JOs hired would be rendering services to assist with barangay needs. “Wala naman gud ko ka meet nila…and as what I've said, recommendation ra man nang ako,” he said, reiterating that it was a recommendation, not a guaranteed appointment.

As for the claims that they were utilized during the election season, Daluz said these employees were not coerced into assisting and that their participation was voluntary.

In a separate interview, Garcia said that, as far as the CMB JOs are concerned, release of their salaries had already been coursed through the City Council’s committee on budget and finance. He emphasized that this was formalized through a resolution just before he stepped down.

Garcia also stressed that they did not hire any employees to help with election-related activities. Just like Daluz, Garcia emphasized that City Hall receives multiple endorsements daily and that receiving one from Daluz makes no difference.

He reiterated that he issued a memorandum clearly stating that no employees shall work without an official appointment. RAE (CEBU NEWS)