Rama Justifies JO Salary

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama insisted that their move to charge the salaries of some job order (JO) employees against the calamity budget is justifiable because the concerned workers are assigned to disaster-related jobs.

The mayor made the explanation following the Commission on Audit (COA) discovery that his administration had spent P12.4 million out of the calamity budget of the Cebu City government to pay the salaries of several job order workers. COA described the city’s move of charging the salaries of said job order workers against the calamity budget as irregular disbursement of public funds. The state auditors cited Section 21 of Republic Act 10121, which provides that the calamity fund shall be used only for disaster risk management activities, to support other affected Local Government Units (LGU’s) and quick response and standby fund for relief and recovery programs.

But the mayor argued on COA’s opinion, saying that the job order workers are necessary are the ones on the ground doing the task of the City’s disaster program such as disaster preparation, prevention, mitigation and risk-reduction, prior, during and after every calamity.

“Who will operate the machinery and equipment to do clearing operations, to do relief operations, to do search and rescue operations, to conduct information dissemination and educational campaigns to the community on safety measures and practices? The job of medical responders cannot be done by machines but by people,” the mayor said.

Rama said that when cargo ship Thomas Aquinas and M/V Sulpicio Express Siete collided at Lawis Ledge near Talisay City last October 16, it was the job order workers assigned to disaster-related jobs who responded and helped the victims.

COA also maintained that the utilization of the calamity budget for payment of the salaries of job order workers was irregular since it was outside the purpose which the five percent calamity fund was intended.