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Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Talkback: Where will we go?
By Rizalina Migallen-Erediano
MCIAA Employees Mutual Association, Inc.
Allow me to comment on the report, “MCIAA won’t release workers benefits yet” (Sun.Star Cebu, Aug. 20, 2005), specifically the line: “It was agreed that some benefits like hazard pay be reduced from P600 a month to P400 monthly.”
There was no agreement. The issue was not resolved and that was the reason for the creation of a committee to study it. The clamor of the employees is to be treated equally and that everybody should receive the same amount.
Meanwhile, how come until now we did not receive the P400 and instead only got P200 per month? Only the favored ones got P488 per month.
During that meeting, Gov. Gwen Garcia said, “produce an evidence that hazard pay shall be granted, then we will release it to you.” But now that we were able to secure a copy of the National Compensation Circular No. 76 and the certification of then general manager Benito Diamos, they ignore it.
We can say management rule the agency according to their whims and caprices.
Your report also said that the “MCIAA Board refused to give in to their demands because the salaries and benefits are already standardized.”
This is debatable. That is why we the employees and not only our group, Mema Inc., sued the management (class suit). We won at the lower court but management elevated it to the higher court like we were criminals.
And yes, we did sign a waiver to repay the benefits we received in case the Commission on Audit (COA) will disallow it. But since we won the case there will be no more reimbursement because those disallowances are part of the benefits decided by the court in our favor.
In fact, the benefits for those years mentioned were deducted from the partial computed amount. Besides, there were MCIAA Board resolutions that supported those claims.
Also, how come COA will not honor its resolution?
An example is MCIAA Board Resolution No. 94-201 giving rice allowance to the employees. This resolution was passed during the time of Antonio R. Oppus, including the granting of health insurance through Health Maintenance Organization.
The hazard pay is allowed under National Compensation Circular Nos. 76. The sustenance allowance of P7,200 per year or P600 per month is authorized by Department of Transportation and Communication guidelines.
What is the role of COA? Is it to impede or to see to it that what has been agreed upon shall be implemented accordingly?
I firmly believe that laws are promulgated for the welfare of the people, not for their persecution. The Court of Appeals already handed down its verdict but the management continuously used delaying tactics, prolonging the agony.
Where are we going if they continue persecuting us?
(August 31, 2005 issue)
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