AROUND 3,000 contractual employees working at the Cebu City Hall underwent a competency examination on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, as part of their contract renewal and hiring for next year.

In a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Cebu City Public Information Office, the 3,000 City Hall employees underwent an examination at a private school in downtown Cebu City.

The examination comprises basic arithmetic, grammar, reading comprehension, abstract reasoning, and the structure of the local government.

Professionalizing workforce

According to the report, the examination was in line with the City’s efforts to professionalize its workforce and comply with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission, particularly on the hiring of contractual employees.

The examination was also part of the City’s assessment to determine if the workers’ contracts, which is set to expire on Saturday, Dec. 31.

Not a guarantee

But a City official said that even if the City’s contractual employees will be able to pass the competency exam, it was not a guarantee that they will be rehired next year.

Lawyer Collin Rosell, secretary to Mayor Michael Rama, said the examination is just one of the criteria set by both the executive and legislative departments to determine who they will renew for next year.

Rosell said it was necessary that by the start of next year, they can already determine how many employees they can accommodate based on the budget allocation for personnel services.

Currently, the Cebu City Government has around 5,000 employees, including job order and casual employees.

The result of the competency examination will be known before in the coming days.

Mayor’s measures

The competency examination is just one of the many measures made by the Rama administration for City Hall employees, particularly for those being hired on a contractual basis.

Back in October, Rama said he would personally check the list of City Hall’s employees to ensure that no “thieves” would be granted a renewed contract.

When Rama started his new term last July 1, he did not renew the contracts of 500 employees whose employment had ended on June 30. (PAC / TPT)