JVR, SP bicker as 2013 fades

CEBU, Philippines -  Talisay City will bid farewell to 2013 with a disputed P629 million annual budget for next year and a “veto” by Mayor Johnny De los Reyes. 

In his note to the city council dated December 26, the mayor said he is vetoing the second sentence in Sec. 5 of the appropriation ordinance. 

Two weeks ago, the sanggunian approved the proposed budget ordinance and as a compromise in approving the ordinance, the mayor promised each of the councilors 50 job order employees and the 22 barangay captains three each. 

The allocation of 50 job order employees to each councilor was an exchange for the approval of the P629 million submitted by De los Reyes for the 2014 annual budget, including the hiring of job orders.

But De los Reyes suddenly changed his mind, a decision that surprised the councilors. 

The mayor issued an executive order slashing the number of job workers from 50 to 20 while appropriating five job order workers to Councilors Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III and Association of Barangay Council president Raul Cabañero. 

City Councilor and former mayor Socrates Fernandez said the mayor is not true to his promise. 

“Wala ko malipay sa iyang gihimo. Ang gibutang sa ordinansa nagsubay ra sa iyang gipanaad kanamo,” Fernandez said. 

De los Reyes in his veto ordinance said “I feel that the quota set by the city officials for themselves are not for the best interest of the city taxpayers.”

De los Reyes maintained that the total number of job workers in the city government already exceed what the people of Talisay could afford. 

“In order not to place too much burden on our constituents, I hereby veto this particular section of the ordinance,” the mayor added. 

Job order workers are paid on a daily basis. They do not enjoy benefits like Pag-ibig, Philhealth, and GSIS.

The salary rate for job orders depends on the number of days they render work per week.

Those who worked for five days a week will receive P300 per day; for six days of work, P253.84 per day; and for  seven days of work a week, P220 per day.

Confidential job orders are entitled to P500 per day.  (FREEMAN)