Shimura to Magpale: Set politics aside

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura is asking Acting Governor Agnes Magpale to set politics aside and to not involve the salary of the employees.

In an interview with The Freeman, Shimura said that there have been a number of Capitol employees who have approached him, worried on the possible delay of their salaries this coming January 15 as reported in local dailies yesterday.

Shimura said that employees are greatly concerned on their salaries, especially with the Sinulog festivities nearing.

Magpale earlier told the media that provincial transactions and expenses are now dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) since the Province still has a number of payables to settle and does not have that much money in the bank.

The acting governor has revealed that the salaries of the employees would be taken from the IRA which has not yet arrived. Magpale said that they are hoping the IRA would not be delayed, like it has always been every January.

Shimura said that he personally asked Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, who has been requested to be transferred to another office by Magpale, if indeed the Province does not have enough funds to pay the employees.

According to Shimura, Salubre informed him that the Province still has the capacity to pay the employees with the current funds, even without the IRA.

With this, Shimura said that he hopes the salary of the employees would be given on time, even if the IRA would not arrive on schedule.

According to Magpale, the IRA is scheduled to be released on January 12.

"The employees are really worried. They are reporting everyday, even the outsourced employees. Unya ma-delayed diay ilang sweldo? Let's leave politics aside, I think it's better to be fair."

Shimura asked that if the Province is really in debt, how come it has only been this time that a possible delay on the release of the salary has been encountered.

"If tinuod na wala na gyud kwarta, ngano naka sweldo man pag December? Ngano naka hatag paman ug bonus?" (If it's true we don't have money anymore, how come we were able to give the salaries and bonus last December?)

Normally, all the members of the board should be included in meetings on the provincial budget but Shimura said that they have not been included in recent budget discussions.

"Ang problema, sila naman lang mag meeting," said Shimura. (They have excluded us in their meetings.) He added that they are scheduled to resume the Provincial Board sessions on January 21 and he is seeking for the discussion of the budget to be included for all the board members to participate.

Further, Shimura said that if the Province does not have money to aid the delegation of Liloan for their participation during the Sinulog grand parade, Magpale does not need to say that Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco needs to go to her office to ask for funds.

Shimura pointed out that it's either there is no money or there is still some, and if there is, the funds for Lilo-an should be provided since they will be representing the province after winning the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo last year. —JPM (FREEMAN)