Lesser job order workers for Diaz, 7 non-allies?

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes threatened to slash down the number of the job order employees allocated to City Councilor Aldin Diaz and seven city council members allied to Alayon party.

This after De los Reyes learned that Diaz and members of the Alayon on last Tuesday’s session voted against giving him blanket authority to approve all contracts and agreements provided the amounts don't exceed P3 million.

"Katong nibabag, tag-lima nalang," De los Reyes said as he expressed his disappointment on Diaz, who belongs to his Liberal party, but voted against the move.

With Diaz’s disapproval, De los Reyes now considers three councilors who are in his league, namely Valeriano Ylanan, Danilo Caballero and Dennis Basillote.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, who also belongs to the Liberal party, could not vote as he was the presiding officer and is only allowed to cast his choice to break ties.

At present, only Councilors Eduardo "Digul" Gullas III and Association of Barangay Council president Raul Cabañero have been allocated five job order employees, while the rest of Alayon councilors are given 20.

Meanwhile, all allies of De los Reyes allies have been allocated 50 job order employees.

"Wa ko'y mahimo, wala man siya mi-support nako. Ako untang gusto nga malipay ta, magkauban ta pero mogawas man gyud ang dautan ko ug tulisan ko," De los Reyes said.

Separately, Diaz said he cannot do anything if the mayor slashes down his job order workers.

"Wala gyud ko'y mahimo niana," Diaz said.

Coupons back

Still in Talisay City, De los Reyes can once again extend medical assistance using his coupons to indigent city residents who are confined at the state-run Talisay District Hospital.

This after the said hospital lifted the temporary ban of the mayor’s coupons after the city government failed to settle P7 million in dues.

“Okay na, pwede na’ng magamit ang atong coupons, nagsabot na ang syudad ug District human mi nakabayad na og P400,000,” said De los Reyes in an interview.

The mayor, who visited the patients of the hospital yesterday morning, said they have also promised to TDH to pay the remaining balance within two years. The whole amount was incurred from 2011 to 2013 during the administration of former mayor Socrates Fernandez.

To avoid similar situations, the neophyte mayor said he has already instructed the hospital to update them on their payables every month so they can settle them right away.

The P7-milion payables and all others he inherited from Fernandez might not be a part of the city’s annual budgeting, but De los Reyes is positive they can repay these using the additional funds the city will gain from revenues, which he hopes to increase this year and in the coming years.

“Mabayran ra na nato kay paningkamotan nato nga mo-increase ang revenue. We are happy nga ang slaughterhouse nga P400,000 sa una karon P1.4 million. Na-improve na. Ang licensing pud, atong gipangusgan nga makakolekta aron madungagan atong income, aron naay eksatong funding sa mga utang ug mga projects,” he said, adding that there is no point in pointing fingers as it would not solve the problem.

De los Reyes was also handing out food coupons to TDH patients yesterday, which the patients’ relatives can use to avail of free food. He also gave out cash to the patients, reportedly from a portion of the sales of trading business. — with Liv G. Campo (FREEMAN)