06 December 2005
Bleak Christmas for city’s EWs
MANY of the 300 emergency workers of the city government face a bleak Christmas after the city government trimmed down their number due to shortage of funds.
As a result, only a few of the EWs assigned in various offices have remained, grossly affecting the capacity of these offices to deliver the services expected of them by the public.
A report said only those carrying out vital functions, such as street and park cleaners, garbage collectors, traffic enforcers and a few others were retained. All the others were terminated effective Nov. 15.
The EWs were the first casualties of an apparent serious financial crisis besetting the city since October this year.
City Administrator Rafael Baraan earlier said that before the city government hired the EWs,l they were informed that their salaries were dependent on the availability of cash in the city coffer.
Baraan earlier said that they did not fill up vacant positions in the city government, anticipating that salaries for these positions can be reappropriated for wages of EWs.
To date, the city government is pressed for cash as shortfall in expected collection of revenues totaled P14 million as of October 31. This may go higher before the end of the year.
Baraan said the city government missed its revenue projections because of uncertain times, and on account of the fluctuating prices of oil.
The laid-off workers rued their termination only few more weeks before Christmas, foreseeing they will surely end up with no food on their dining table midnight of Dec. 24.
They said it is disheartening that they were the first to go when in fact there were consultants who are receiving fat monthly salaries in the hire of the city who were not touched. (PNA)
As a result, only a few of the EWs assigned in various offices have remained, grossly affecting the capacity of these offices to deliver the services expected of them by the public.
A report said only those carrying out vital functions, such as street and park cleaners, garbage collectors, traffic enforcers and a few others were retained. All the others were terminated effective Nov. 15.
The EWs were the first casualties of an apparent serious financial crisis besetting the city since October this year.
City Administrator Rafael Baraan earlier said that before the city government hired the EWs,l they were informed that their salaries were dependent on the availability of cash in the city coffer.
Baraan earlier said that they did not fill up vacant positions in the city government, anticipating that salaries for these positions can be reappropriated for wages of EWs.
To date, the city government is pressed for cash as shortfall in expected collection of revenues totaled P14 million as of October 31. This may go higher before the end of the year.
Baraan said the city government missed its revenue projections because of uncertain times, and on account of the fluctuating prices of oil.
The laid-off workers rued their termination only few more weeks before Christmas, foreseeing they will surely end up with no food on their dining table midnight of Dec. 24.
They said it is disheartening that they were the first to go when in fact there were consultants who are receiving fat monthly salaries in the hire of the city who were not touched. (PNA)
