CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City administrator Richel Bacaltos yesterday denied the allegation that the city government has been collecting Home Development Mutual Fund or Pagibig contributions from its casual or job order (JO) workers without documentation.
“No, it’s not true that we’re doing it without proper papers. We have an existing memorandum of understanding with Pagibig, wherein all employees of the city hall serving at least six months will immediately be subject to deductions,” Bacaltos said.
The city adminis-trator’s statement came after Councilor Romeo Villarante last Tuesday aired before the council the purported complaints of some JOs of the reported Pagibig deductions without them having to sign any documents.
Following Villarante’s report, presiding officer and Vice Mayor Alan Bucao had ordered the council secretariat to clarify it with the Human Resource Office.
But Bacaltos, for his part, said if these JOs have questions regarding their Pagibig contributions, they should have immediately gone to the HRO or to him or to the Pagibig website, as Villarante would be the “wrong person” to “explain” the matter to them.
He said they did not have to make the employees sign any paper as they only have to forward their names to Pagibig.
And if they want to be enlightened as to where their money had gone, Bacaltos said they can personally check with Pagibig, and it’s all there, and not to the city hall as earlier claimed.
As to the claims that even JOs whose contract is only good for a month yet are still being made to contribute, Bacaltos said that could be a part of a day-to-day error especially that there are several employees having the same surnames.
If this really happened, Bacaltos advised the workers to visit the HRO and file a complaint regarding the matter, and their money will be refunded.