CEBU City’s Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has revoked the biometric daily time record exemptions following a report that the head of Management Information and Computer Services (Mics) has been receiving salary without reporting to work.
The allegation against Mics officer-in-charge Dante Arcilla was brought up by the Facebook page Cebu Updates (formerly the Cebu City Public Information Office’s social media page) on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
In its post, Cebu Updates alleged that Arcilla had been receiving receiving salary without any entry in the biometric daily time record.
In a press conference on Monday, June 10, Garcia said he instructed the Human Resource and Development Office and Acting City Administrator Kristine Joyce Batucan to revoke all exemptions.
Garcia said employees seeking exemption from the daily time record should personally defend their reasons to him.
“That does not mean nobody will be issued an exemption; they just have to come to my office personally and defend why they should be exempted in the biometrics,” Garcia said.
“They can still apply for a biometric exemption; they will just have to submit a letter explaining why they need the biometric exemption,” he added.
Arcilla denied the allegation on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
Arcilla said the nature of his work, which often requires him to work beyond regular hours, exempts him from logging his time in and out.
“I am never off work. I am working 24 hours a day,” Arcilla said.
Arcilla emphasized that he consistently reports to the mayor’s office and collaborates with the city administrator, who can verify his attendance.
He noted that his responsibilities include establishing information infrastructure, system and application direction, data security and policy formulation for the city. / AML