Monday, July 21, 2008 Back to work for Balas Boys By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO-Gov. Eddie Panlilio is set to reinstate on Monday the members of the Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan (Balas) who staged a picket in front of the capitol last week.
This came after a nine-hour close-door discussion with the disgruntled Balas members, Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu, and representatives of civil society groups who mediated in the dialogue.
In an interview with Panlilio, he said the Balas members have agreed to come back to work and set aside their previous disagreements with the provincial administrator.
The meeting was attended by civil society groups Kasaup and Kapampangan Marangal Inc. at the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) last Friday. The dialogue was moderated by Monsignor Deo Galang.
It could be remembered that Balas checkers and supervisors trooped to the office of Panlilio last July 8 to complain about the alleged demotion of eight quarry supervisors to mere checkers by Dabu. The "demotion" was made after alleged anomalies and complaints against some members of Balas surfaced.
The Balas members called for the resignation of Dabu. They stressed that only the resignation of Dabu will appease them, adding that her resignation would greatly improve the working conditions in the Provincial Capitol.
But in the dialogue, Panlilio said the Balas members were persuaded to accept the demotion and return to work.
Panlilio, who did not give the details of the closed door meeting, said that the reinstated checkers would only work from Monday to Friday. Saturdays and Sundays would be handled by the new checkers hired by the capitol when the disgruntled Balas members protested and abandoned their duties.
The governor said that an evaluation team would look into the performance and allegations on the Balas members.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Joseller "Yeng" Guiao said that how the governor deals with the Balas members is actually the chief executive's prerogative.
"The only point that I can make is that it shows he cannot fully manage his own people," Guiao said, adding that it takes management skill and competence to work effectively in government.
Balas is the organization set up by the governor to oversee the operation of quarry operations in the province. It is also tasked to apprehend illegal quarry operators and implement a proper quarry monitoring process.
