MAYOR Raymond Alvin Garcia warned Cebu City Hall department officials on Monday, Feb. 11, 2025, that they will be held liable if found negligent or if they intentionally delayed the processing of employees’ salaries.
The mayor’s warning followed the launch of an investigation by the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) into reports of unpaid salaries affecting several City Hall employees, with some experiencing delays of up to four months.
“I might impose sanctions on department heads because the responsibility stops with them,” Garcia said.
The mayor said department heads must ensure timely salary disbursements and will be held responsible for any delays that occur under their watch.
Order
In a press conference on Monday, Garcia directed HRDO to submit the list of the more than 50 affected City Hall employees who have yet to receive their salaries.
He also sought an explanation for the cause of the delays and the factors contributing to the issue.
“Sometimes, the delay is not HRDO’s fault but may be due to lapses by other individuals involved in the process — or even by employees who fail to submit the necessary requirements,” Garcia said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
“We have to investigate, but the number of affected employees may not be as high as reported. We need to determine the real reasons,” he added.
Garcia did not rule out the possibility that some department heads or officials were “power-tripping” by deliberately delaying salary releases.
HRDO chief Henry Tomalabcad said that on Feb. 4, his office asked 24 City Hall departments to explain the delays affecting more than 50 employees, including regular, casual, and job order personnel, some of whom have not been paid since October 2024.
The issue surfaced after the affected employees raised complaints following the year-end holidays.
Garcia warned that if the investigation finds intentional delays, responsible officers, including administrative officers or department heads, could face suspension or dismissal. / EHP