- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez stressed that only 3,500 job order (JO) workers with appointment papers for October to December this year will be paid.
“If there’s no appointment paper, you are considered a volunteer and will not be paid. Do not expect to be paid,” Benitez clarified in a press conference this morning, Nov. 18, following what he termed as discontent and confusion among those rendering or doing work for the city, hoping that they will be paid.
He said there are about 5,000 volunteers, but the city cannot accommodate or pay them all because of budget constraint, since they are operating on what remained of the 2022 appropriation from the previous administration.
To make things clear to all, Benitez said he signed appointment papers for JOs, for a three-month period. The 3,500 JOs include the 2,700 rendering work at the Bacolod Government Center and 800 in schools.
By December, the mayor will again sign the appointment papers of JOs for January to March next year, but the number will depend on the need of the city and the performance of the workers.
Benitez said the city actually needs only 3,000 JOs.
He said the city will also follow what is allowed under the law for the remuneration and gratuity for JOs and contract of service workers this Christmas./CGC
