By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez issued a stern warning on Tuesday to job order (JO) employees of the city government, instructing them to refrain from engaging in politics.
“Job order employees should be working,” Benitez emphasized during a press conference at his office in the Bacolod Government Center.
He stressed the importance of prioritizing governance over politics, saying, “There should be more governance and less politics.”
Benitez lamented that during the previous administration, JO employees were often used for political purposes.
“Sad to say, in the previous administration, job order individuals were mostly used for political purposes, and we would like to change that,” he said.
The mayor underscored that JO employees should focus on their roles and that the city government will hire only the necessary number of workers to efficiently accomplish tasks.
“We hear horror stories that sometimes they are being used as rewards for being loyal to a political boss,” he added.
Benitez said he plans to request a formal statement from the Civil Service Commission emphasizing that JO employees should not engage in politics.
He cited instances where non-performing JO employees claimed to hold political influence, saying, “If this is the case, you defeat the purpose of being a job order employee.”
Bacolod City currently employs about 4,000 JOs, with an annual budget allocation of PHP 400 million, compared to the PHP 600-700 million allocated in 2022 under the previous administration.
Benitez also highlighted his program, Isugid kay Mayor, which he said has been instrumental in addressing public complaints and weeding out underperforming employees.
“Before, complaints from the public fell on deaf ears. With Isugid kay Mayor, concerns are immediately acted on,” he said.
Benitez noted that the program encourages residents to voice their concerns, as the city government takes swift action.
“The prevailing culture at the NGC [New Government Center] now is doing the right thing. If they are not doing the right thing, we will take action, whoever they are,” he said.
He clarified that while recommendations from political allies were considered when hiring JOs, employees must prove their worth.
“If they feel untouchable because they are political appointees, they are wrong,” Benitez stressed.
The mayor reiterated his warning to JOs, stating firmly that they must not engage in politics.
