City accountant denies hand in salary delays

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City accountant Viluzminda Villarante disagrees with the allegation that her office contributes to the delay of the distribution of salaries of city hall job order workers.

“Please spare the accounting office for any delay of any transaction. My staff does not keep clients waiting for more than five minutes,” Villarante said in response to the memorandum issued by city administrator John Yre De los Reyes asking her and three other department heads - city human resource department heads Hazel Bathan, city budget officer Edgar Mabunay, and city treasurer Emma Macuto - to explain the delay in the release of wages of job order workers every payday.

According to Villarante, the processing of cash advances and payroll does not take 20 minutes to process as long as documents are complete.

“Please be informed that the accounting office has no contribution in any delay of distribution of salaries whether regular or job order employees,” Villarante said in her letter addressed to De los Reyes.

Villarante even told De los Reyes that her office has been working beyond office hours including Saturdays and Sundays.

Mayor Johnny de los Reyes and the city administrator have been criticized because of this issue. (FREEMAN)