REALIGNMENT, NOT RETRENCHMENT

THERE will be no retrenchment at city hall, only a realignment of human resources.

This was emphasized by Councilor Teofilo Guadiz III during a committee hearing last Tuesday, attended by city hall rank and file employees that discussed the planned reorganization of the city government.

His assurance brought peace of mind to city government employees who earlier felt they may be compelled to apply for early retirement once the reorganization is implemented.  

Guadiz, chair of the committee on Good Governance, stressed that only realignment will take place, and therefore, no employee will be terminated.

“The planned reorganization aims to improve the quality and efficiency of the city’s service delivery by eliminating and or minimizing, overlapping, and duplication of functions and to institutionalize professionalism,” Guadiz said.

Talks about the planned reorganization started following a management evaluation study conducted by the University of the Philippines Center for Local and Regional Governance that recommended organizational re-structuring.

But owing to lack of funds to pay for the retirement and separation fees of those opting for early retirement, the city deferred the implementation of the planned reorganization.

Ogie Ventinilla, president of the Samahan ng mga Kawani ng Dagupan, said that many of the city hall employees have been apprehensive about the planned implementation that could lead to the loss of their jobs.

 He proposed that if a reorganization will be implemented, the city offers employees opting for early retirement additional cash incentives on top of their retirement fee, so they can start their own businesses.

The manpower audit had revealed that a number of regular employees have been inefficient and performed below standards and found some emergency workers to be far more efficient.

Guadiz also bewailed the absence of standards in appointing city hall officials and cited the designation of Romelita Alcantara from Dasol, a relative of a top city hall official as city treasurer of Dagupan.   

“Let’s avoid that kind of nightmare. Let’s professionalize the system first,” said Guadiz, who showed his displeasure over Alcantara’s appointment as city treasurer. – AQL

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