Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Wednesday, July 27, that he is open to dialog with members of the Kabankalan Sangguniang Panlungsod to ensure a harmonious working relationship for the good of their city.
Anytime time they want to come to my office they are welcome, he said.
The Kabankalan City Sangguniang Panlungsod members had passed a resolution expressing their dismay and disappointment over the hiring of non-Kabankalanon residents by Mayor Benjie Miranda.
Miranda said when he declared that he would not fire any employees, and job order and casual workers of Kabankalan, the SP should have also passed a resolution thanking him for doing that.
“I prioritized the Kabnkalanons because they were the ones who made me win the mayorship”, he said.
In fact when he ran for mayor his uncle and two siblings were removed from their city government jobs by the previous administration, Miranda said.
There is a city ordinance that states that 70 percent of the city employees must be Kabankalanons and 30 percent can come from elsewhere, he said.
He has only hired about 18 non-Kabankalan residents for their skills, which is allowed by law, Miranda said.
“I have also hired Kabankalan residents”, Miranda said.
Kabankalan City will mark its 25th Charter Anniversary on July 29 to August 2.
Miranda, a former barangay captain and kagawad, said he is a member of the Indigenous People of Kabankalan coming from the Bukidnon tribe.*