Talisay budget officer opposed to job order workers’ promotion

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council favors promoting job order workers who have been working at city hall for more than three years to casual employees’ status but the city budget officer is against the idea. 

“It’s impossible. We cannot do that,” Edgar Mabunay told The Freeman after the city council yesterday approved a proposed resolution sponsored by Councilor Valeriano “Val” Ylanan recommending the promotion of job orders’. 

Ylanan, in his resolution, said that once promoted, the job order will receive benefits.

He said there are existing memoranda from the Civil Service Commission that allow the hiring and appointment of casual employees. 

Mabunay said the city has to look at its coffers before considering the proposal.

He said there are no vacancies at city hall and there is no budget for salaries for casual employees.

“At least there are 1,000 job orders in City Hall. No casual employees, only regular employees here,” Mabunay said.

Job order workers are paid on a daily basis, hired on a piecework or per task basis, hence no employer-employee relationship exists, Mabunay said.

The Civil Service Commission has said the services covered by a contract of services or job orders are not considered government service and they are not covered by the Civil Service Commission Law Rules and Regulations. (FREEMAN)