PB okays Talisay’s call for additional personnel

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial board has approved the request to hire 39 persons for the legislative staff of the Office of the Vice Mayor and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Talisay City. 

The city council recently approved the creation of positions and the corresponding Salary Grade (SG) through SP Ordinance No. 2013-01.

This includes the salaries of one item for local legislative staff III and one item for local legislative staff II under the Office of the Vice Mayor; 12 items for local legislative staff II, 12 items for local legislative assistant staff and 12 items for utility workers under the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

But City Councilor Edward Alesna, chairman of the committee on finance, said the positions will be amended since “all primarily are confidential.”

Under the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 22, s. 2007, the position shall be re-titled to reflect the actual duties and responsibilities of the position such as that the Local Legislative Staff Assistant III (SG 10) will be Executive Assistant I; from Local Legislative Staff Assistant I (SG 6), it will be Private Secretary I (SG 11) and from Local Legislative Staff Employee I to Personal Driver/Chauffer. 

“The positions as shown in the description of duties and responsibilities, require the highest degree of trust and confidence and are in close proximity with the vice mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod Members and were classified as primarily confidential and co-terminus,” Alesna said. 

Alesna also said the city ordinance needs and must be referred to the provincial board for approval in order to be valid. 

Under the Local Government Code, it provides that ordinances from component cities and municipalities of the province need prior approval from the provincial board before these could be implemented.

Alesna has cited Section 458, paragraph (vii) which states that among the powers of the city council is to determine the positions, salaries, wages, allowances, and other emoluments and benefits of officials and employees paid wholly or mainly from city funds and provide for expenditures necessary for the proper conduct of programs project, services and activities of the city.

Alesna said the initial amount necessary for the creation of the staff is P5,315,712.00, which shall be taken from the general fund of the city of the Talisay under the budget of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.  (FREEMAN)