Thursday, January 17, 2008 Malig: No salaries for 187 Balas employees? By Jun A. Malig Cognition
THE 187 casual employees working under the Biyayang Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) special committee stood to get no pay for 2008 and are likely to give up work after the Provincial Board (PB) scrapped the P45 million quarry reform fund of Governor Eddie Panlilio, a report by a national daily stated on Wednesday.
This paper's banner story on Wednesday also quoted PB presiding officer Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao as saying that allocations for three departments that have yet to be created (Balas, Public Information Office, and Provincial Tourism Office) were also "deferred."
I'm not very familiar with the technicalities and particulars involved in government appropriation and budgeting, but if it's true that there were no money allocated for the salaries or wages of the 187 Balas employees for the entire 2008, I think this is one serious matter that needs to be resolved by the governor and the provincial legislators.
Reports say that the 12-month wages of the Balas quarry checkers, amounting to some P22.34 million, is included in Panlilio's proposed P45 million quarry reform fund, which was placed by the PB in the P214 million "unappropriated" balance.
Section 2.12 of the approved 2008 provincial budget, known as Ordinance no. 223, it states: "Wages of casuals performing duties as provincial checkers for the quarry operation amounting to P22,343,234 representing 187 casuals shall be integrated under the Office of the Provincial Treasurer."
Again, my knowledge in governmental budgeting is limited. But does this particular paragraph of the budget ordinance's Section 2 says that the Balas casual employees may still get their wages under the payroll of the Provincial Treasurer's Office?
Incidentally, the Treasurer's Office's 2008 budget for personnel services (salaries and wages of its officers and employees) is P39,070,808. The department has the biggest allocation for personnel services at the Capitol. It has bigger allocation than the Governor's Office (P21,072,898) and the PB (P19,767,779).
I believe that the issue whether or not the 187 Balas employees would be receiving their salaries from January to December of this year must be clarified by concerned officials. The casual employees, no matter who signed their appointment papers, must not be caught in the ongoing tug-o'-war at the capitol. Their respective families must not be made to suffer.
If, indeed, the PB had removed the budget intended for the wages of Balas employees, there's a big problem. But if their wages had just been incorporated under the Treasurer's Office and will still be given to them, I don't see anything wrong with it. As long as the 187 casual employees get their share for the services they render, from which department they receive their wages is not a big issue.
I join the silent majority of Pampangueños who have been hoping to see a smooth working relationship between the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government. Minus pride, apprehension, politics, and personal bias, I believe that the overdue standoff at the Capitol would still be resolved.
