By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
THE administration of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas will re-employ job hires who were terminated by his predecessor and brother-in-law, former mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“Ang aton subong concern, ipasudlon ta anay ang ginpagwa nila, after mapasulod ta na ang ginpagwa then we start talking about new job hires,” Treñas said in a press conference on Thursday.
Casuals who were hired during the campaign period have already been terminated, according to Treñas.
But long-time casuals that were already hired before the campaign period will be retained, he assured.
“Ang ginpasulod nila during campaign ginpagwa ko na. Ang mga wala pa nakakas, wala problema, iretain ta. May ari pa di kay former mayor Mansueto Malabor and former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, ang akon lang ya ang tong ginpasulod lang during campaign,” he said.
Treñas lamented that the previous administration hired too many casuals. Hence, if they are to maintain the number, the city government will need P28 million.
“I was told nga because nagpasulod sila sang damo damo nga casuals. We need P28 million if we only maintain the current number kay ginpasobrahan nila dumduman niyo to,” he said.
For the same reason, Treñas said he still cannot provide a specific number of additional casuals that will be rehired.
“Sa new job hires we have to look for P28 million. Hindi ko pa matan-aw kung pila madugang ta kay teh gapangita pa ko pondo kay up to the end of the year we still need P28 million, damo pa na,” he said.
To recall, the previous administration of Espinosa had been sacking and rehiring job hires since last year.
Just this March, around 388 excess job hires received their salary two months delayed after the City Treasurer refused to sign their payrolls because of fear of misspending public funds despite directives from the mayor himself.
The standoff between the city government and the City Treasurer even led to the executive branch seeking help from the President himself through a letter.
