City hall employees feeling dejected, mull filing case vs majority bloc
THE Dagupan City hall employees packed the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Thursday afternoon bearing placards “Hwag ninyo kaming taguan, bonus aprobahan” went home feeling dejected after the seven members of the majority in that chamber rejected their request for the approval of a supplemental budget and its twin supplemental annual investment program appropriating P36,090,000 for the special recognition incentives and one-time gratuity pay of employees.
They initially felt optimistic since it was the fourth special session called by Mayor Belen Fernandez and they all showed up on December 28 . It was the first special session the seven majority members attended. But to the employees’ dismay, the majority declared they cannot pass the requested supplemental budgets and their concurrent supplemental investment programs because they had filed cases before the Regional Trial Court and the Ombudsman questioning the passage of the appropriations ordinance appropriating the P1.3 billion annual budget.
Councilor Alfie Fernandez told the employees to let Mayor Fernandez instead do something within her power to provide their needed special recognition incentive and gratuity pay, saying that being a miracle worker, she can do it.
The employees who had hoped to receive their P20,000 SRI and P5,000 gratuity pay released before New Year, said they will seek a consensus among them if a case against the majority members should be filed because the latter refused to comply with President Marcos Jr.’s executive order.
Julius Alcaide, administrative officer III at the city treasurer’s office, attributed the majority’s continued indifference to their plight because of sheer politics.
Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez said the SRI and gratuity pay of employees may not be discussed again next year because in the absence of an approved 2024 annual budget since no other matters can be discussed in the SP next year except the budget. (Leonardo Micua)
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