Talisay to sack 600 job orders

CEBU, Philippines - Following the recent calamities that struck Talisay City which depleted the city’s funds, the administration has decided to cut its job order worker from 2,000 to 1,400 starting next month.

“Tungod sa mga nahitabong calamity, kinahanglan gyud mag-reduce na ta sa atong spending,” said city administrator John Yre delos Reyes.

John Yre said starting November, there will only be 1,400 JOs in all departments and offices, saving the city P3.6 million every month. As of  the moment, city has around 2,000 JOs, each earning at least P6,000 per month or a total of P12 million monthly.

For his part, city budget officer Edgardo Mabunay said the city, which runs on a P457-million budget, can sustain the monthly salaries of  2,000 JOs, but it is a prudent move to cut this number.

“Maka-sweldo ta sa 2,000 job orders kay naa man tay buffer sources, from unused funds like the salaries of the vacant positions. Pero mas maayo gyud unta nga pagamyan ni para dili kaayo ma-exhaust atong funds intended for the salaries and wages of employees,” Mabunay said. 

Meanwhile, John Yre said to implement this move, they will have to reduce the JO quotas of every councilor to 30 from the present 50.

“Patas na tanan councilors,” he said, adding that even the three administration will also get the same number of job order quota. John Yre did not say if  Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante’s 600 JOs will also be reduced, but said if mayor Johnny delos Reyes has only 300 then his vice mayor should also have the same number or less. 

In Talisay City, over the years the number of  job order employes has increased exponentially from former mayor Eduardo Gullas’ 200 to former mayor Socrates Fernandez’s more than 1,000 and now Delos Reyes’ whopping 2,000.

This happened after elected officials “thanked” their supporters by giving them jobs at the city hall. (FREEMAN)