Council wants vacant CH plantilla posts filled up

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has requested the Office of the Mayor, through the Human Resource and Development Office (HRDO), to fill up the vacant permanent plantilla under the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO).

Councilor Joel Garganera sponsored a resolution regarding the matter.

Garganera said that the CCENRO was created to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources, as well as implement environmental laws and the city ordinances.

He said the city is experiencing various environmental concerns such as flooding, quarrying, mining, water shortage, solid waste problems, and other issues.

The councilor said that in order to equip CCENRO to function at full potential, there is a need to augment additional technical personnel which will significantly help in the implementation of the city's ongoing programs and services.

“Ang CCENRO’s been addressing a lot of environmental issues and concerns, but if you try to look at their manpower, out of 14 in the plantilla for technical positions, only 3 were filled up. So, naa tay 11 kabuok nga plantilla diha nga mga technical nga wala nato ma-fill up,” said Garganera.

“How can we expect an office to produce answers that are being raised by this council regarding the different issues and concerns regarding our environment, if we don’t have the necessary personalities or technical persons that will address the issue?” he added.

Councilor Rey Gealon, in a corollary motion, requested the city government’s other 26 departments to fill up the plantilla positions pursuant to the directive of the Civil Service Commission.

Gealon said this is the plight of the city government.

The former City Attorney said he was apprised of such a situation that most of the 27 departments have not filled up their plantilla positions.

“In fact, that is the reason why our lawyers under the Office of the City Attorney are bombarded with cases from the Civil Service Commission indicating that the city government must fill up these plantilla positions. And, our lawyers are very busy on that front which is supposedly not the case, considering the core competency of our lawyers in the Office of the City Attorney,” said Gealon.

Under Section 17 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, local government units shall exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, and incidental to efficient and effective provision of basic services and facilities.

Section 16, Chapter II of the same law provides for the general welfare clause which states that every LGU shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.

Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, LGUs shall ensure and support among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants. — GMR (FREEMAN)