CAGAYAN de Oro Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the service of around 700,000 contractual employees in the bureaucracy until the end of this year.
Rodriguez said there are about 700,000 personnel under job order or contract of service status, according to the data he cited from the Civil Service Commission.
He said these workers are not covered by civil service law and do not enjoy the benefits of regular employees. Their contracts are good for six months only, subject for renewal.
"With the current Covid-19 situation, the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and lockdowns happening all over the country, it is becoming clear that there is a very strong possibility that the contracts of these employees might not be renewed or extended," Rodriguez said.
The Kagay-anon lawmaker informed the President that the Workers of Government Movement in Cagayan de Oro City has sought his help in having the service of contractual personnel retained after the expiration of the contracts.
"As such, may I endorse their request for the contracts of these workers to be securely extended until December 31, 2020. This will provide security to them in these uncertain times," he added.
Rodriguez emphasized that government agencies have funds in their budgets for contractual personnel.
He added that they can also seek Malacanang approval to use savings during the enhanced community quarantine period to extend the service of these employees.