City gov’t spends P20M a month on JOs

The City Government is spending P20 million every month for the salaries of job order employees, according to veteran newsman Robledo Sanchez.

Sanchez, in his complaint sheet filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and other city officials, stated that some of the job-order employees occupy the same position within a department or a program, usually as administrative assistants or administrative aides paid in different rates as high as P25,000 a month.

Sanchez revealed that the City Government’s Solid Waste Management Program has the biggest number of job-order employees with 183, followed by the Traffic Management Program with 137 employees.

He said the Tourism Promotion and Development Program’s 62 job-order employees receive daily rates ranging from P600 to P650.

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed graft and corruption charges against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and the different respective Department Heads in connection with the 2,506 job order employees under the Pamintuan administration.

Sanchez obtained documents including appointment papers of job order employees signed by Pamintuan, his secretary Kirk Galanza and City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan.

Sanchez said Pamintuan and his cohorts violated Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees.

Sanchez also noted that the appointment of these job order employees are in violation of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 17 Series of 2002, dated June 24, 2002, which states that contracts for job-order employees should be submitted to the CSC Regional Office (CSCRO) to be reviewed on whether the said contracts are complying with CSC guidelines.

by: Reynaldo Navales

Ala yang panyambut (he has no chances of winning)

Ala yang panyambut (he has no chances of winning),”
Angeles City mayoralty candidate Carmelo Lazatin said when asked about his chances against Mayor Ed Pamintuan in the 2013 polls.

Lazatin said he has the support of the business sector, 75 percent of the City Hall employees, transport groups, senior citizens, youth, and the members of the grassroots level.

But Alexander Cauguiran, president of the Partido Abe Kapampangan, was quick to say that was fed with wrong information by his political lieutenants.

Cauguiran said from all indications, the growing sentiments among Angeleños especially youth, intellectual voters, sectors including the women, urban poor, market vendors, transport groups, and professionals is to support Pamintuan who proved his advocacy on health, education, environment, and peace and order.

“The administration of Mayor Ed Pamintuan has brought back prestige to Angeles City. After 12 long years, Angeles City is again recognized as among the top cities of the country. The last time this happened was also during the first 2 terms of Mayor Pamintuan from 1992 to 1995 and 1995 to 1998,” Kapisanan ng mga kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran ng Angeles (KKKA) member Teresita Arcina said.

“When Congressman Lazatin first ran for mayor of Angeles City, he promised the Pampang market vendors that he will not raise the payment for our stalls and permits, and for the nine years that he served as mayor, he kept his promise,” Angeles City Pampang Public Market Vendors Association (ACPPMVA) chairwoman Tess Maniacup said.

“We wholeheartedly support Congressman Lazatin’s candidacy and we are very proud of him because he is someone who knows how to fulfill his promises,” said Maniacup.

According to Cauguiran, youth groups also joined the bandwagon for Pamintuan, stating that the education programs of the incumbent mayor must be continued and sustained as these benefits the students and their parents.

"The establishment of the City College of Angeles is one of the priorities of Mayor Pamintuan. It is a promise fulfilled. Lazatin could not possibly implement the same because it is against the business interest of his family who owns a tertiary school in the city,” Cauguiran said.

He added that the youth and students are now aware that it was Mayor Pamintuan who first implemented the city's scholarship program which is now given more budget to accommodate more deserving students.

Lazatin, for his part, promised that he will not raise business and real property taxes if he is given a chance to serve as mayor again.

“Kung ano ang babayaran ng mga negosyante ng January 2013, ganon lang ang babayaran nila habang ako ang nakaupo na Mayor,” Lazatin promised.
The Partido Abe Kapampangan, meanwhile, dared Lazatin to show proof of his "fitness to run for mayor."

"We are not yet questioning Lazatin's winnability although we doubt very much if he truly has the support of the different sectors as indicated in his press release,” said Partido Abe Kapampangan Deputy Secretary General William Aguilar.

“But instead of bragging about his chances of winning, we challenge Lazatin to prove first that he is fit enough to withstand the rigors of next year's electoral campaign. After that, we shall ask him to present a comprehensive program of government to the people, if he has any,” Aguilar added.

by: Reynaldo G. Navales