There are 447 contractual workers in Isabela town, Negros Occidental, who have not been paid since October 15, Mayor Irene Montilla said Monday, November 15.
She said the non-payment is due to the failure of the Sangguniang Bayan, led by Vice Mayor Renato Malabor Jr., to fully approve Supplemental Budget No. 2 on July 13 amounting to P3,393,717.28. It only approved P1,880,012.90.
The SB also did not approve the allocation for their salaries in Supplemental Budget No. 3, she said.
“This is the reason why we cannot pay our job order employees,” she said.
As a temporary measure, she and her son, Juan Miguel Montilla, distributed rice assistance to these employees who were affected by the budget impasse, Montilla said.
A pattern of political obstructionism is being played again which sadly, affected the 447 job order employees and their families, she said.
These employees, despite the non-payment of their salary, continue to perform their job, especially at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.
They have referred the matter to the Interior and Local Government.
Earlier, Isabela Councilor Francis Malabor said they need the list of all job orders, casual employees before they act on the supplemental budget being asked by the Municipal Mayor’s Office.*