The transition team of outgoing Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia did not turnover any documents, including data on the city’s casuals and job order (JO) workers, to the team of mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez during a meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday afternoon, June 22, Rep. Greg Gasataya said.
Gasataya, who heads the transition team of Benitez, said they were told that they can instead get the documents they need from the city government’s various departments that are ready.
Outgoing City Administrator Edward Joseph Cuansing said the documents of the various departments, which the Benitez team can go over, are already complete. The Benitez team can coordinate with the different departments, Cuansing added.
Former Councilor Caesar Distrito, a member of the Benitez transition team, said you can see that the Leonardia team is avoiding the responsibility of submitting the documents on the casuals and JOs.
That is the sad reality because how can they help retain personnel needed in the various offices if they don’t submit the information on who they are, Distrito said.
They were expecting that the documents would be turned over at Wednesday’s meeting, he said.
Generally the Leonardia team was cooperative but in so far as issue of casuals they have not been given proper information, Distrito said.
Gasataya said the documents are needed to prepare the incoming administration for its takeover at noon of June 30.
“The intention of mayor-elect Albee is to hit the ground running as soon as he assumes office,” Gasataya said.
He said their talks with the Leonardia team have been good so far, they will instead get the documents from the different departments that hopefully will be ready on or before June 30.
In fairness some of the department heads said they are ready with their documents, Gasataya said.
Gasataya said they were informed during the meeting Wednesday that the documents of the budget, general services, Sangguniang Panlungsod, engineer’s, city legal, accounting and treasurer’s offices were ready for their perusal.
Pacita Tero of the Department of Social Services and Development also said that the DSSD documents are ready, she was just waiting for instructions, Gasataya said.*