Friday, November 07, 2008 Protesters to Dabu: Release our back wages or else By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The protesting sacked quarrymen of the Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan (Balas), through former leader Christopher Ocampo, gave Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu an ultimatum.
They urged Dabu to release their back wages on or before Nov. 15 or they will go to court and charge her with oppression and grave misconduct. These back wages include night differentials, terminal leaves and cash gifts.
The letter, which Dabu described as "somewhat threatening," pointed out that the protesting Balas boys, whose back wages are being held pending cuts and deductions that would have to be made, stated that they are giving Dabu "one last opportunity" to release the protesters' salaries and wages dating back to 2007.
"If we do not hear from you until such time," it said, "we will have no choice but to go to court and file the necessary charges against you."
The letter also denied that there was an overpayment in the salaries of the protesters. It told Dabu: "You may have conveniently forgotten that your categorical position regarding the Balas Boys is that the Provincial Board is not correct in downgrading salary grades of casual employees."
"Consistent with your stand," the letter went on, "you even signed a letter instructing Ms. Manalad and Mr. Benjamin Yuson to approve the salary grade (SG) of Filologo Rodriguez, Allan Cunanan, and myself from 1 to 22, and the Balas personnel from SG 1 to SG 5 and SG 7."
Ocampo said in the letter it is for such reasons that Dabu "had no right to hold the release" of their back wages.
He also denied Dabu's accusations of electricity theft, calling them "baseless allegations" since they have not illegally tapped on the power lines of the provincial Capitol, and as such, their pays on-hold could not be subjected to such cuts, "least of all the cost of electricity."
On October 27, Dabu wrote the dismissed quarry checkers and monitoring team leaders informing them that their request for the release of their back wages has already been processed by the Capitol, but is being withheld pending the submission by the Commission on Audit (COA) of deductions and cuts that will to imposed on the pay of several protesters who are no longer connected with the flagship program.
Dabu said in the letter that necessary cuts will have to be made on the payroll of those who received grade 7 and 8 salaries as all casual Balas personnel have been reverted to salary grade 1.
The sacked quarrymen will be charged for the electricity they used in their now four-month picket at the park. The letter noted that their electric power lines have been tapped with the Capitol's lines so they will charged for the electric power they consumed during their stay at the capitol grounds starting August 11 when they (the protesters) moved to Arnedo Park's Capitol Boulevard side.
There were also hints that charges of electricity theft will be filed against the protesters for illegally tapping on the capitol's power lines.
Last Wednesday, the provincial administrator said there was indeed "overpayment" in the quarrymen's salaries as cited in Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provisions, stipulating that pro-rated deductions would have to be made on the back wages of the protesters.
She said she would immediately reply to the letter of Ocampo and the protesters to once and for all clarify matters regarding their requests.
Additionally, Dabu said their overtime pays had already been released and it is only their night differentials of 2007 which are being held, but are currently being processed by the Capitol.
"Some of the rallyists have yet to submit to us their necessary clearances, and we have to wait for these in order for them to get their cash gifts, night differentials and terminal leaves," Dabu said, adding that they are only complying to proper CSC and COA rules and regulations regarding their pays.
But Dabu reiterated the Capitol's stand that the cost of electricity during their stay at Arnedo Park would really have to be borne by them, saying "Who will pay for their bill?"
She said contrary to reports, she did not order the re-tapping of the lines the are using from the city's to the Capitol's, but it was upon the instance of the San Fernando Electric Company (SFELAPCO), whom she said reported to them the illegal connections.
Capitol personnel have already obtained the protesters' load requirements, which they will use in computing the amount of power consumed by the Balas rallyists. "SFELAPCO," Dabu said, "has professed their willingness to assist us in fairly computing the consumption and charges."
According to Dabu, this development has complicated the release of their back wages. "As long as they are connected with the Capitol's power lines, the longer the computation would take, the longer their salaries would be put on hold," she said.
She asked, "What if they stay there for three years?"
