JVR reinstates job order workers

CEBU, Philippines – After terminating their services earlier, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has decided to reinstate the job order employees assigned at the offices of the City Council members.

However, De los Reyes, in an interview with The Freeman, clarified that the change of mind is not to please the angry members of the council, but to allow the JOs to receive their Christmas bonus.

“Dili ni para nila (konsehal) ha, para ni sa mga tawo. Sayang kun di sila kadawat sa ilang bonus, Disyembre na biya,” said the mayor.

De los Reyes also clarified that the Alayon councilors’ threat against him has no effect since he reportedly did not violate any laws when he issued a memorandum allowing only two JOs per councilor.

Shortly after his order, seven Alayon councilors led by Socrates Fernandez warned De los Reyes that they would sue him for his decision.

The councilors, in a press conference, said they were punished for the crime they did not commit. De los Reyes reportedly reduced their JO quota from 25 to two after they junked his P350 million loan for the construction of the Tabunok Public Market.

In the conference, Fernandez and his allied councilors said it was right to reject the mayor’s project as the amount was allegedly overpriced, and that there was no proper feasibility study that proves that the market could pay off the loan.

It was during the term of Fernandez, who served as mayor in 2004 to 2013, when each allied councilor was entitled to have 20 JOs. De los Reyes, a Liberal Party member, leveled the playing field during the start of his term by giving 25 or more to each of the councilors and 200 to his vice mayor.

But starting last Friday, De los Reyes said he had to start reducing the number of JOs at the City Hall to save on cost, especially that the city is spending at least P6 million a month for the wages of the JOs alone.

He said the 186 JOs will then be divided by all members of the council including Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante. De los Reyes said the City Hall is now down to 500 JOs from more than 1,000 in the past months.

While he allows the councilors to endorse their supporters to work at the City Hall, De los Reyes reminded them that he is not afraid of any of their threats, as not even the Local Government Code has provided that the members of the legislative department can hire or are entitled to have JOs under their names.

“Way tawo ang di mausab ang huna-huna. Pasabot gani ni nga naminaw ko nila. Pero wa ko mahadlok. Way epek ilang threat nako. Wa koy gi-violate,” he said.

De los Reyes said if the councilors would only observe other local government units like the City of Naga, only the mayors have the right to hire or endorse JOs, which subsequently results to quality performance at work and lesser expenses on the part of the LGU. – /ATO