Dagupan SP majority rails vs reduction of JOs
FROM P90K TO P30K ALLOCATION
THE new majority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Dagupan is railing against the directive of Mayor Belen Fernandez that each city councilor will be entitled to only three job order (JO) or emergency employees until the end of their term.
Their protest manifested in a resolution authored by Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia was passed by his six colleagues in the new majority over the objection of the minority led by Councilor Jeslito Seen resulting in a partisan voting of 7-5.
Those who backed Erfe-Mejia’s resolution were Councilors Alvin Coquia, Marilou Fernandez, Celia Lim, Alfie Fernandez and Irene Lim-Acosta, all members of the LiFe team in the last election. They wore their blue campaign uniform in the last election in a show of force.
Erfe-Mejia pointed out then Mayor Brian Lim allowed every councilor to have 10 JOs in each of their offices, a claim corroborated by Councilor Librada Macalanda, the new majority floor leader, a member of the past city council.
However, the resolution got vigorous objection from Councilors Seen, Dennis Canto, Michael Fernandez, Liga ng Barangay president and ex-officio councilor Marcelino Fernandez and Sangguniang Kabataang Federation president and ex-officio Councilor Joshua Bugayong.
In opposing the resolution, Liga ng mga Barangay and ex-officio Councilor Marcelino Fernande cited OIC City Treasurer Randolf Ubando’s report to Mayor Fernandez, that he expects a shortfall in the collection of revenue receipts of businesses as many businesses were forced to close shop because of the pandemic.
Councilor Seen also cited the on-going belt-tightening program being implemented by Mayor Fernandez to enable the city government of Dagupan to survive the impact of both the pandemic and global recession on the city’s economy.
On claims of Erfe-Mejia and Macalanda of 10 JOs per councilor during the past city administration, Councilor Canto said in the past Sanggunian, it was conducting two regular sessions each week as compared to just one session a week this term.
Erfe-Mejia said the wages of the 10 JOs per councilor (at P9,000 monthly salary per JO) is already contained in the 2022 annual city budget of Dagupan that was approved last June and the reduction could be a ply to merely divert the budget to the mayor’s office.
Claiming that the JOs in the SP were reduced by 70 percent, Erfe-Mejia went on to dare Vice Mayor Kua to tell Mayor Belen Fernandez to also reduce the number of her office’s JO by 70 percent.
Councilor Celia Lim, mother of former Mayor Brian Lim, a businesswoman, said JOs need not be sacrificed at this time since they too need to eat and support their families while Councilors Macalanda, Acosta and Fernandezes (Marilou and Alfie) maintained that with more JOs employed, more services can be delivered.
Councilor Michael Fernandez calling on the members of the majority to understand that the new city administration has just started its work and in a transition. “There are adjustments and new policies to be made”, he said. (Leonardo Micua)
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