|
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Capitol workers hit hike in officials' stipend
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Employees of the Misamis Oriental Capitol lashed out at the Provincial Board (PB) Monday on its passage of an ordinance increasing the allowances of the governor, vice governor, PB members, and department heads.
The ordinance appropriated P466,500 from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for the implementation of an increase in the representation and transportation allowance of provincial officials.
The allowance for Governor Oscar Moreno's allowance was hiked from P11,400 to P12,000, Vice Governor Julio Uy from P7,150 to P11,000, and each PB member from P7,150 to P9,000.
"Paspas kaayo sila mo-approve ug ordinansa para sa increase sa ilang RATA pero ang among Love Bonus ug Education Benefit intawon hangtud karon wala pa gyud (The board is so fast in approving an ordinance to increase their allowance but our love bonus and education benefit until now have not yet been approved)," a provincial employee said.
Three other employees who all requested anonymity for fear of repression told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the love bonus of P3,000 was supposed to have been given to them last February while the educational benefit of P1,000 last June yet.
They disclosed that the guidelines for the allowance increase in representation and transportation was just received early this month.
"Pero wala lay duha ka semana approve na dayon...ang amoa intawon pila na ka bulan wala pa (The board immediately approved the increase in their allowances while our benefits until now we have yet to receive)," another Capitol employee said.
Similar apprehensions were also voiced by PB Member Francisco Bade during the PB session Monday, when budget, ways and means committee chairman Pepito Gambe offered the measure for approval by the plenary.
Bade said the increase would only benefit a few top executives in the Provincial Capitol and that there are several employees who are waiting for an increase in their own benefits.
"Because these are lowly paid workers...and as what the late President Ramon Magasaysay said about how those who have less in life must have more in law," he said during the session.
Bade inquired about the status of the benefits of Capitol employees particularly their education benefit.
In response, Gambe said the budget office had "always" been looking into complying with the circular mandating the giving out of education benefits of employees.
He said the increase of the Capitol officials' allowance has been given the go-signal by Moreno and that its effectivity has been purposely delayed.
"Because as the governor said there must be self-denial in terms of remuneration," he said, adding that the increase could have been implemented earlier this year.
Gambe later told this paper that the allowance increase came first than that of the education benefits of employees.
"The allowance increase involves only a small number of persons so it was easier to process than that of the education benefits which include several employees," he said. "We even have to resolve whether we will be giving such benefits to casual employees or just to regular employees."
(August 23, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
'Something big' looms in Davao City: mayor