The new head of the Provincial Human Resource Management Office has been instructed to hasten the release of the salaries of Negros Occidental provincial government job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers, and address the concerns raised by regular employees, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, March 9.
Felomina Guzon was appointed PHRMO officer-in-charge Friday following the transfer of Anabelle Palic to the Office of the Governor.
Diaz said he instructed Guzon to ensure that the salaries on the JO and COS workers are included in the provincial government’s payroll and not paid using vouchers. The voucher system requires numerous signatures and delays their salaries by three to four weeks, Diaz said.
The JO and COS workers’ salaries should also be released by ATM starting April, he added.
The new PHRMO head was also instructed to look into complaints of some employees that their days in quarantine for COVID-19 were deducted from their leave credits, he said.
She was also directed to act on complaints of provincial government retirees that the PHRMO was requiring them to complete their clearances before their papers are turned over to the Government Service Insurance System to avail of their pensions, Diaz said.
The retirees in their complaint said that the clearance is not needed for them to claim their GSIS benefits, it is only required for their terminal leave pay, he added.
Palic was transferred to the Office of the Governor following complaints lodged against her by the provincial government employees and retirees, Diaz said.
She is now assigned to overseeing the transfer of the management of the Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City back to the provincial government, Diaz said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson transferred Palic in response to the sentiments of provincial government employees, the issue has been resolved in so far as we are concerned, he added.
The governor acted swiftly, which shows that he will always defend the welfare of the employees, Diaz said.*