ILOILO – The provincial government has renewed the contracts of 2,019 job hires and contract of service employees.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. issued Memorandum Number 81, Series of 2018 on Dec. 29, 2018 addressed to department heads / heads of offices and chiefs of hospitals regarding the contract renewal.
“In view of the apparent certainty that the 2019 (P3.7-billion) budget cannot be passed before Dec. 31, 2018 and the province shall be operating on a re-enacted budget on Jan. 1, 2019, and in the exigency of the service, you are hereby directed to recommend to the undersigned the contract of service and job hire employees which are necessary for the operation of this province to carry out its mandate in providing efficient and effective basic services,” read part of the memo.
According to Defensor, the services of these employees are considered essential “if they are of utmost importance, basic, indispensable and extremely necessary for the continued basic operation and existence of this province.”
He ordered the office chiefs to “process the renewal of these personnel that you are recommending” subject to availability of funds and “direct them to work accordingly.”
A total of 1,660 personnel of 11 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (649 job hires and 1,011 contract of service employees) would thus be able to continue working.
“I assured them that they will be duly compensated for the services rendered,” said Defensor yesterday. “Sin-o maninlu sang kasilyas ta? Importante na ang mga job hires kag contractual nga mga doctors kag nurses sa hospitals. Indi puede nga pabaya-an ta. We have to save the day for them.”
The governor, however, lamented he could not do anything about the implementation of the fourth tranche of the salary standardization of over 2,000 regular capitol employees.
“Kay wala ma-approve ang 2019 budget, we will work on a re-enacted budget. Buot silingon ang usaron ta nga budget amo ang budget sang 2018 (which did not have allocation for the fourth tranche),” said Defensor.
According to the governor, “The implementing rules and regulations on salary increases under the Local Government Code are very clear. Salary increases cannot be made retroactive.”/PN
