• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II announced yesterday that the employment of some 20 provincial government personnel will not be renewed starting next year.
Diaz, however, said that some job order (JO) workers will be elevated to contract of service (COS) status while other contract of service workers will be recommended for casual status.
“We also have employees who have performed well and have been recommended for upgrading. While there are rewards, there are also correctional steps,” he added.
Diaz said the non-renewal of employment of some Capitol workers was based on the recommendations from their respective department heads.
“We are evaluating and validating it, and will then recommend it to the governor, so that by January 2024 those who have grounds for non-renewal will not be renewed,” Diaz said.
He added that the provincial government will look for “a better replacement who could contribute more to the provincial government in attaining its goals and objectives.”
“Everything is based on performance,” Diaz said.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has started the processing of additional bonuses to qualified employees.
Diaz said that the exact amount of additional bonuses that will be given to more than 3,000 employees will be announced during the birthday celebration of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Capitol Christmas party on Dec. 13.
The event will coincide with the switch- on ceremony of Christmas lights and decors at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City.
Diaz said that the P5,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive for each Capitol employee is now being processed.
It was not determined yet if the Collective Negotiation Agreement bonus of P25,000 for each Capitol employee will be increased to P30,000, which is now allowed by the law.
Aside from the extra bonuses, Capitol employees have already received their 13th month pay or mid-year bonus in May this year, and the 14th month pay or year-end bonus which was released last month.
The provincial government has also allocated a budget for the JO and COS workers, Diaz said.
Last year, they each received P5,000 as gratuity pay and gift pack.
Diaz said they are hoping that the amount will be higher as the budget allows them to increase the gratuity pay. | GB
