Periodic assessment for city’s fiscal status

CEBU, Philippines — “I want to announce today that if nothing improves, no program being instituted, expect 3,000 employees to lose their job.”

This was the strong statement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama before the City Hall employees on Monday.

Rama said a substantial assessment or evaluation regarding the city’s fiscal status will be conducted after three months, then another evaluation will be done after six months of his fresh term.

“We have one month, three months, six months. After three months, we evaluate. Next, six months,” said Rama.

“If the fiscal management will not be in our favor, expect the 3,000 employees to be affected,” he said.

Rama added that while there will be a continuing announcement from the City Administrator regarding movement of employees, he is directing all department heads to have the employees under them cooperate and “bring them where they should be.”

“I do not wish to hear that they are not being given an assignment, I will remove you, the department head, if you will not perform that job,” he warned.

He also instructed the Human Resource Development Officer to provide a 'Customers Concern and Issue' box located at a conspicuous area in each floor at the City Hall.

The mayor said he wants it checked every week, and the HRDO must provide him a review.

As he reiterated the upcoming evaluations for the employees movement, which is depending on City Hall’s fiscal situation, Rama assured that he will tell them in due time regarding the current status on the matter.

“I will tell you in due time, where we are, how much money is left, how much was spent before, how much did I leave when I was the Mayor. You ought to know so that you will understand why we should proceed on a one month, three months, six months. I will be very clear in that, I do not want to hide. I am a leader, you get what you see, you see what you get,” said Rama.

Meanwhile, City Administrator Suzanne Ardosa also announced the names of the department heads who will still remain in their respective positions.

This is in line with the “Serious Significant Changes” at the City Hall.

Ardosa clarified that this is only temporary because it will still depend on their performance on whether they will continue in office or not.

Those who will still continue working with the administration are Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, officer-in-charge of the City Health Department; Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, OIC Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries; Liezl Calamba, City Assessor’s Office; Engr. Joel Biton, Department of General Services OIC assistant department head; Cerwin Eviota, Public Information Office; Engr. Dante Arcilla Jr., Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor; Grace Luardo, CESET/BEO head and garbage czar; Alexander Soledad, Bantay Dagat Commission executive director; Roberto Varquez, South Road Properties head; Raquel Arce, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head and PROBE team head; Regina Merdeces “Jojo” Lingaolingao, City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines (CHAMP) head; Atty. Dominic Diño, Office of the Mayor chief of staff, Accelerated Social Amelioration Program executive director; Atty. Jerone Castillo, Office of the Mayor special assistant on finance matters; Gladys Gay Vaño, City Anti-mendicancy Board head.

In addition, Amilo Lopez, Cebu City Sports Commission executive director; Roseny Reyes, City Budget Office OIC assistant head; Ijoden Mamacol, Office of the Muslim Affairs; Melissa dela Cruz, Local School Board (LSB); Atty. Jade Ponce, Land Management Office executive director; Alberto Vestil III, Fort San Pedro executive director; Allan Bautista, CREMDEC; Jonah John Rodriguez, Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention.

Jovito Taborada, Jr., Cebu City Sports Commission executive director; Judy Concepcion Navarrete, Scholarship Committee; Paolo Saberon, Cebu City Youth Development Commission executive director; Pastor “Jongjong” Alcover II, Peace and Order Program (POP) executive director; Karla Paula Henry-Ammann, Sister Cities Program executive director; and Cinbeth Orellano, Protocol Office will still be serving at the City Hall.

“Di sad ni final pa, naa pa sad lain mosunod nga batch kay ubay-ubay man ni kay HR is still preparing, so grupo ni kadtong mga designated na officer-in-charge, whose appointments or designations atong gihimoan og bag-ong order so that they will continue to be the officer-in-charge. Sama sa giingon ni Mayor, we'll never know. It can be three months, it can be six months, it can be more depending on our performance,” said Ardosa. — FPL (FREEMAN)