‘Sign contract to get your pay’

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes yesterday proposed what he called as a "win-win solution" to the plight of at least 30 non-teaching personnel of Talisay City College who have not yet received their salary for two months now.

De los Reyes pointed out that he acknowledged the sentiments of the unpaid workers who have yet to receive their compensations for the months of January and February.

In last Tuesday's session, the non-teaching personnel, represented by Wendy Labajo, sought the assistance of the members of the city council to help them withdraw their salaries amounting to over P260,000.

But the mayor told The Freeman that releasing of salaries and honorarium in government cannot just be done without proper documentation and attachments.

"I am appealing to them to understand us that there are certain guidelines that we need to follow. I am offering them a win-win solution, they must first sign the contract as part of the attachment to the payroll," De los Reyes said.

While the city approved a P14 million budget for the city college that includes payment of the staff's salaries, he said there was no contract entered into by the non-teaching personnel with the city government for the months concerned, a reason why their salaries are being withheld.

"Asa man ang contract nila? Wala man. Ako bitaw silang giingnan nga pirmahan nila ang contract ug wala'y daghang storya, ato dayon i-release ilang salary for the months of January and February," De los Reyes said.

He even noticed that the hiring of non-teaching personnel was done by virtue of "midnight appointments" by then mayor and now Councilor Socrates Fernandez.

De los Reyes noted that the school's Board of Trustees, in which Fernandez sat as chairman, passed a resolution last Jun. 27, 2013 appointing the administrative and non-academic personnel for the city college for the school year 2013 to 2014.

"Murag kilat man gani ang ilang pag-pass sa resolution kay nahuman na ang May elections atong tungura unya nagpasar sila og resolution," he said. 

Last Feb. 27, De los Reyes invited the non-teaching personnel for a meeting and asked them to sign a contract until February so they could get their two-month salaries.

They, however, refused to sign the contract believing that doing the same would constitute resignation on their part. — (FREEMAN)