1,500 Capitol workers to get bonus

CEBU, Philippines - At least 1,000 job order employees of the Cebu City government will lose their jobs once Tomas Osmeña takes over the City Hall, the newly elected mayor confirmed yesterday.

 Osmeña said, however, he has yet to think over the status of the 3,000 casual employees.

"For the casual employees, it's case to case basis gyud na," he said.

Lawyer Mary Ann Suson, head of the city's Human Resource and Development Office, said the contracts of these employees will end on June 30, the same day the term of outgoing mayor Michael Rama expires.

Rama failed to hang on to the mayorship after returning mayor Osmeña defeated him 267,222 to 233,186.

"We won't know kun unsay plans sa next administration for the employees. I really cannot say. The casual, ang ilang appointment would end June 30 so it's up to the new administration if ever na ma-renew or not," Suson said.

She said several casual and job order employees have gone to her office expressing concern over their employment.

"Normal mana nga ma-worry. Pag Tuesday after the election, grabe kahilom sa City Hall. Naay niadto sa office and they are really worried about their employment," she said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella who got a fresh mandate said losing jobs is a reality government employees need to face during a change of administration.

"That's the reality that we really have to face pero mohangyo lang unta ta kung bisan ug casual niya nagtinarong sa trabaho, wala mag-apil-apil sa pamolitika, nga unta mahatagan sa ilang higayon nga makapadayon sa ilang serbisyo kay dili raba lalim makulban sa kun labi na karung panahuna nga mag-abli na sad ang klase no… let us consider the human side," he said.

Osmeña said the Cebu City Transportation Office will remain intact.

He said the office has carried its duties out well and he does not want the transition at City Hall to affect the city's traffic situation.

"Para kanako, maayo ilang performance. Dili ko ganahan maguba ang akong implementation sa traffic kay it's our concern," he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum directing all local government units to create a Local Governance Transition Team "for a smooth turn-over and transition in local government administration after the May 9 national and local elections" but outgoing mayor Michael Rama said this is out of his mind for now.

"I'm not thinking of transition team. I'm still fighting his being a murderer. I will repeat, he is not only a robber, he becomes a murderer of the will of the people in their exercise of their right of suffrage," Rama said, referring to Osmeña.

Under the DILG memorandum, local chief executives should begin undertaking an inventory of all local government real properties, movable properties, fund utilizations, action and implementation plan, as well as an audit of the results of the Local Governance Performance Management System (LPGMS), among others. — (FREEMAN)