BACOLOD City – Around 191 job order (JO) workers of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) fear losing their jobs.
The agency’s board members reportedly failed to renew these employees’ appointments that lapsed on June 30.
“We hope they could patch things up and resolve their indifferences and not make all of us sacrificial lambs,” said John Moises Relles, assigned as researcher in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
On Monday, the job orders met with sugar board member Emilio Yulo III at the SRA office in Bacolod City to iron out their problems.
He said the board had scheduled two meetings on June 27 and 28 to take up supposedly the renewal of the appointment of the JOs, but because of lack of quorum the meeting was postponed.
Yulo added he went to Manila yesterday for another scheduled board meeting to finally settle the issue.
The SRA top official also said he is not in favor to delay the employee’s renewal of contract because their work is essential in the agency.
He also wanted to correct the impression that there is inaction to the board.
“In fact, two members of the board attended the scheduled two meetings last week but due to lack of quorum it was cancelled,” he said.
On his part, Relles said, “we are disappointed but we are not surprised since this has been happening for a while.”
The JOs are receiving salaries around P10,000 to P40,000, depending on their respective jobs. Their contracts are being renewed every six months./PN
