Politics snag salaries of job hires, casuals

By Felipe V. Celino

Job hires and casual workers of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz have yet to be paid in the past three months as the executive department has yet to release the funds for the SP.

This, despite the request of Vice Governor James Mitang Magbanua in February 2022 that was addressed to Governor Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras to release the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funds for Sangguniang Panlalawigan members.

The governor’s office received Magbanua’s request on March 15, 2022.

Contreras and Magbanua belong to opposing parties in the May 2022 elections

Apart from the job hires and casual workers of the vice governor’s office, employees of the provincial board members are also unpaid for three months.

The affected board members are Jonathan Besa, Thea Faith Reyes, Weldie Apolinario, Elmer Arevalo, Ricky Martin, Matty Hachuela, and Mitch Patricio.

Magabanua’s final demand letter on March 15 remains unacted as of this writing.

A similar problem also occurred among job hires and casual workers of the Capitol-run Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in November and December 2021 even if there were available funds.