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Removal of more than 100 TVs from Bacolod gov’t offices starts

The televisions being removed at the Bacolod City Government Center.*Nico Delfin photo

More than 100 televisions are being removed from offices at the Bacolod City Government Center, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Thursday, March 23.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez ordered their removal after he caught five persons watching a TV program at the Cash Division of the City Treasurer’s Office during office hours.

Maghari said records show that there are 133 televisions but he could not determine the actual number removed yet as it was ongoing.

All department heads have been directed to coordinate with the General Services Office for the proper procedure on returning the televisions, Maghari said.

The televisions are being pulled out so city employees are not distracted from their work, he added. However, exemptions will be made if the televisions are used for work related activities, such as monitoring, webinars and online meetings.

Requests for exemptions will be dealt with on a case-to-case basis, he said.

Bernard Samonte Jr., Cash Division head , said three employees of the division and two outsiders were caught watching television at past 3 p.m. on Tuesday by the mayor.

As soon as he received a memorandum, he had the television removed.

The television was placed in his office during the pandemic for webinars, he said.*

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