The Davao City Hall. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
Chibo Tan of the National Federation of Labor Unions said the situation of the city government’s job order and contract of service workers only reflect the system of the current dispensation which implements contractualization, a scheme that does not protect their right to security of tenure.
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The 10,000 job orders and contract of service workers employed by the local government of Davao are facing a precarious situation. Their future remains uncertain as there’s no assurance yet, that they will keep their jobs after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio finally leaves her post on June 30.
Lawyer Erwin Alparaque, head of the city’s Human Resource and Management Office (HRMO), said though that they already asked the department heads to submit their recommendations or requests as to who would be retained “to ensure continuity of the services of the city government.”
Job order employees who will be retained will work for the period of July to December this year. They will be serving under mayor-elect Rodrigo Duterte who will assume office on July 1.
Duterte-Carpio, in an interview by davaotoday.com, said the future of the job order employees and those whose contracts are going to end will now rest on the hands of the older Duterte.
“It depends on the City Mayor who he is going to assign on the (different) offices,” she said. She made especial mention on the office of the City Administrator, noting that “it’s a position of trust and confidence” with the city’s chief executive.
But labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) criticized the system as it feels for the affected employees and workers especially those who have families.
Chibo Tan of the National Federation of Labor Unions, an affiliate of KMU, said the situation of the city government’s job order and contract of service workers only reflect the system of the current dispensation which implements contractualization, a scheme that does not protect their right to security of tenure.
Tan said employees should not work coterminous with the local leaders’ length of service as this only encourages insecurity of employment. The process of renewing job orders or contracts, he added, also “cultivates patronage politics” and is prone to corruption because it depends on the recommendation of the department heads.
Meanwhile, Alparaque acknowledged that the hiring of employees or workers based on political alignment is a “reality.”
“Perhaps, there are some people who would ask the present leader for some sort of accommodation. That’s natural, for any LGU. I can only suggest that as much as possible, the city should hire those who are competent,” he said.
The employment of job order and contract of service workers, he noted, are contained in an agreement approved by the City Mayor. “(They) are not covered by (the) CSC (Civil Service Commission) because there is no employee-employer relationship,” he noted.
He assured that prior the transition, the city will ensure there are enough people who will continue the job. The city is now doing some evaluation to check who are qualified to take a particular post in the city government.
Alparaque also said his office have taken steps, like the capability development program, to ensure that employees give quality service. The said program, he added, trains employees to hone their knowledge, skills and attitude.
HRMO also has regular monitoring and gets feedbacks from the citizens through suggestion boxes required in all local government agencies. They also accept anonymous calls and letters and do their own investigation.
“We have terminated and disciplined several employees. We have a team that will investigate once a complaint has been received. But we always observe due process because we cannot terminate without just cause,” Alparaque said. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
davao, Kilusang Mayo Uno, KMU, rodrigo duterte, Sara Duterte-Carpio
