BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) in Negros Occidental wanted the provincial government’s Human Resources Management Office (HRMO) head Atty. Anabelle Palic relieved from her post.
Renelo Lastierre, president of PACE, said several capitol employees who approached them claiming they were “de-credited” when they underwent quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019.
Since they were “risking” their lives to serve the public, they believed the Civil Service Commission did not allow deductions during the quarantine period, said Lastierre.
He also received complaints from retirees; they claimed they were required to submit 10-year copies of their Income Tax Returns, “which the retirees can hardly produce.”
Lastierre pointed out that the HRMO itself should be the repository of these official documents.
“This is too much of a requirement because some of the employees here are unable to have their documents signed by their former bosses who were no longer around,” Lastierre stressed.
The PACE head also said such clearances were also “not necessary anymore” for retirement claims.
“Several retirees have not received their GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) retirement benefits yet because HR is not endorsing their papers,” Lastierre added.
He also bared that several health workers were complaining of “delayed travel allowance, longevity pay and even unreasonable transfer and discrimination.”
A substantial number of employees have already signed the petition, and more provincial employees, especially those working in capitol-run hospitals are signing for Palic’s relief, Lastierre said.
Palic, on the other hand, said she would answer the complaints in the proper venue, pointing out it is still premature for her to react as she has not received a copy of the petition/complaint./PN
