ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) is undergoing a major overhaul following the illegal sale of lots at the city government’s relocation site.
Twenty-nine job hire and contract of service employees were terminated on Aug. 4.
“All contractual and job hire employees were terminated to safeguard essential documents,” said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
He also ordered a thorough review of the city governments’ housing programs and projects.
Treñas earlier fired two ICUPAO casual employees – an overall site coordinator and a site coordinator.
ICUPAO head Roy Firmeza also took a one-month leave starting July 31.
The remaining ICUPAO employees under contract and job orders will be re-assessed and re-assigned to other departments where their expertise is needed.
Assistant City Administrator and ICUPAO officer-in-charge Noel Panaguiton said the office will be provided with accountable staff who can properly fulfill the programs of the city government.
These include social workers and community development officers.
Panaguiton said the contingent Local Housing Board will improve the implementation of the city government’s housing programs.
When asked if Firmeza will be permanently replaced at ICUPAO, Treñas replied: “Tan-awon ta.”
The mayor also ordered the creation of an investigating committee to review all relocation lot awards for the past four years.
Awards which were not proper or without basis will be annulled, and appropriate criminal and administrative charges will be filed as may be warranted, he said.
Last year, the city government raffled off 100 socialized housing units to low-salaried employees of the city government.
There were supposed to be a total of 120. However, only 100 were drawn because of the election.
After election, the city mayor was surprised when he was told that the remaining 20 were already filled in.
“So we will have to revisit these awards. I promise this will be raffled off because I do not want any semblance of favoritism on my part especially because I am the sitting mayor,” said Treñas./PN
