Talisay gov’t plans to trim excess fat

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has announced the streamlining of the city’s bureaucracy to sustain its operational expenses next year. 

In light of this, he might consider reducing the number of job order employees assigned to offices of councilors from 50 to just 20 in a bid to save money as Councilor Doroteo Emit has suggested. 

“Dili man sab mahimo nga magpabiling daghan ang atoang job orders. Sakto gyud si Councilor Emit. Daghang quota, daghang kontra,” De los Reyes said, adding that the city government can save P1.8 million every month from the city councilors, based on the monthly salary of each worker at P6,000. 

De los Reyes admitted it would be painful to bring down the number of job order employees but he must also consider some projects that he would want to implement in the next remaining years of his administration. 

Early on, the city budget office said maintaining about 2,000 job order workers in the entire city hall would already eat up the city’s budget for basic services.

A job order employee will earn P300 a day for five days of work a week.

Those working six days a week will earn P253.84 a day and those working seven days a week stand to earn P220 daily. Job order contracts vary at 15 days, 30 days, and three months.

Termination or renewal of job order contracts will depend on their performance.

The salaries of 1,901 job order workers would be charged to a P250 million Maintenance, Operations and Other Expenses outlay in Talisay’s annual budget.

Delos Reyes said it was better to reduce the hiring despite a negative feedback he expects to get from residents.

Political observers said councilors have difficulty in making a stand against the job orders because their political career might be affected in 2016 elections. 

But De los Reyes believes it won’t totally affect the political career of some councilors if they will decrease their quotas of job order employees.

“Dili man sab siguro maapektuhan kay sauna bitaw, ang uban ang ilang job orders pwerte ra mang gamaya pero nganong nahimo pa man silang number one ug number two?” De los Reyes said, referring to Councilors Danilo Caballero and Valeriano Ylanan, who ranks number one and two, respectively.

They both belonged to the opposition in the previous administration, whose quota did not reach 20 job order employees.  (FREEMAN)