A New Standard (Hopefully)

In a political landscape where patronage often dictates governance, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has taken a remarkably principled stance that deserves attention.

His recent directive prohibiting the use of job order workers for political purposes represents more than just administrative reform – it’s a direct challenge to an entrenched system that has long exploited vulnerable government employees.

For decades, job order and casual workers in Philippine local governments have been treated as modern-day political vassals, their livelihoods hanging by the thread of political patronage. These workers, who often form the backbone of local government operations, frequently find themselves caught in an impossible position: perform political tasks for their superiors or risk losing their jobs. The practice has become so normalized that many local chief executives view it as their prerogative to deploy these workers for political activities.

Benitez’s reform strikes at the heart of this dysfunctional system. By explicitly prohibiting department heads from using job order workers as political tools, he has acknowledged a long-ignored truth: that public service should be divorced from political servitude. His approach demonstrates that effective governance doesn’t require maintaining a captive workforce of political operators.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Under Benitez’s administration, Bacolod City has reduced its job order employee budget from PHP 600-700 million to PHP 400 million annually. This reduction suggests that previous staffing levels were inflated not by genuine administrative needs, but by political considerations. The mayor’s willingness to trim these numbers, despite potential political costs, shows rare courage in Philippine local governance.

Contrast this to the sudden swell in the number of casual and job hire workers of Iloilo City Hall under Mayor Jerry Treñas.

The number of job hires in the Iloilo City Government nearly doubled in 2024, reaching an estimated 8,200, compared to 4,631 in 2023 and 4,760 in 2022, as reported by the Commission on Audit.

The sudden bulge in 2024 was reflected in the Supplemental Budget No. 5 passed last year, which allocated PHP 57.4 million for the gratuity pay of PHP 7,000 per employee.

Most significant is Benitez’s implementation of the “Isugid kay Mayor” program, which provides a channel for public complaints and accountability. This mechanism ensures that performance, not political connections, determines an employee’s value to the government. It’s a stark departure from the traditional system where political loyalty shields underperforming workers from accountability.

Other local government executives should take note. While his administration is far from perfect and Bacolod beset by its own woes, Benitez’s reforms provide a blueprint for modernizing local governance and breaking free from the cycle of political patronage. His actions demonstrate that it’s possible to maintain political leadership while upholding professional standards in public service.

The transformation of local government requires more leaders willing to challenge established political norms. Benitez has shown that reform is possible when leaders prioritize good governance over political expediency. His example should spur other local chief executives to examine their own practices and consider whether they truly serve the public interest or merely perpetuate a system of political dependency.

As the country approaches another election cycle, Benitez’s reforms take on added significance. They show that local governments can function effectively without maintaining armies of political workers, and that true public service is about meeting citizens’ needs, not building political machinery.

The challenge now lies with other local leaders. Will they continue the old ways of political patronage, or will they follow moves to modernize local governance? The answer to this question may well determine the future of local government reform in the Philippines.