Alleged non-dismissal of drug-positive LGU employees mere hearsay

A MEMBER of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the local government unit (LGU) here described as inaccurate and unfair a news report published by the Cebu-based tabloid Super Balita alleging that two LGU employees found positive of drug use continue to be in service owing to their connections with city officials.

The committee member, who asked anonymity, said the allegation is fraught with lies and falsehoods considering they have not come up with any decision and recommendation on the fate of the employees that were the subject of the latest round of random drug tests by the LGU.

The source described as hearsay the identification of the subject LGU employees considering the committee did not release any names who underwent the drug test. He adds that they are keeping the names confidential to protect the privacy of the subject employees and their families based on the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The source credits Mayor Edward C. Codilla for convening the Disciplinary Action Committee, something that was not done by past chief executives. Chaired by City Administrator Francis Pepito with department heads and representatives from first and second level employees as members, the committee is tasked to conduct investigations and hearings on erring officials and employees of the LGU.

Even if the employees were found positive of drug use, they still have a right to due process. Asked what is taking them long to come up with their decision, the source said their procedure is subject to Rules 4-9 of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.

He outlines the process of their investigation. The first round of surprise drug test was conducted on Aug. 4 last year. On Sept. 15, a show cause order was issued to six employees who tested positive wherein they were made to submit their written answers/explanations.

Finding a prima facie case, the committee endorsed its recommendation to the mayor for issuance of a formal charge for grave misconduct. Respondents on Sept. 22 received the formal charge and thereafter a formal hearing was held on Oct. 8. On Nov. 13, a decision was handed down dismissing all six respondents from the service. One of them filed a motion for reconsideration but was denied on Dec. 13, 2014.

A second drug test was conducted on Sept. 8, 2014 and the third a week thereafter on Sept. 15. The procedure ideally takes three months but the close proximity of the two succeeding drug tests resulted to the delay in the resolution of the third case as the committee had to complete the procedure for the second batch.

The drug tests resulted to the dismissal of six regular employees during the first round and five casuals (plantilla) during the second. The source is confident that Mayor Codilla will uphold the committee’s recommendation for the third batch. Aside from drug cases, the committee has its hands full with three other administrative cases including that of the Civil Service Unit guard charged of mauling a co-employee.

Since assuming his position in July 1, 2013, Mayor Codilla has dismissed from service a record of 12 employees, more than his predecessors ever did. This shows his attitude as a disciplinarian and his desire for the LGU to be manned by competent, efficient and honest employees who will serve and be respected by the public, something Ormocanons should credit the mayor for, the anonymous source believes.

Mayor Ondo inaugurates rehabilitated school facilities in San Juan

Mayor Edward C. Codilla and DepEd Ormoc Supt. Mariza S. Magan cut the ceremonial ribbon inaugurating the newly rehabilitated classroom, principal’s office (behind them) and stage at San Juan Elementary School. Also in photo are Principal Juanito B. Cabonce; Eileen Ipulan, Disaster Risk-Reduction and Resiliency-Building and Emergency Assistance Mission program coordinator of Balay Mindanaw; and Asunta Dorothy Charles, country director of Johanniter International Assistance.

ONE year and four months after bearing the brunt of typhoon Yolanda, San Juan Elementary School is now spruced up with reconstructed buildings and manicured lawns, thanks to the help of non-government organizations (NGO) that are helping the barangay get up on its feet.

Last Mar. 24, Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. turned over rehabilitated structures consisting of a classroom/computer room, principal’s office and school stage that were funded by Johanniter International Assistance and the City of Vienna. Johanniter Country Director Asunta Dorothy Charles said the turned over school structures are just among the projects worth €48,000 undertaken by their organization in the barangay.

Other projects are the reconstruction of the barangay hall, health awareness training and the upcoming installation of sky hydrants in four sitios. A sky hydrant is an Australian technology purifier that draws water from any source and turns it into potable quality.

The rehabilitation of the classroom cum computer room is timely considering that information technology equipment from the Education Department worth more than P168,000 was delivered to the school last Mar. 19. The items consist of six desktop computers complete with accessories, a notebook computer, two projectors, two white screens, a multimedia speaker set, networking peripherals, etc.

Based in Cagayan de Oro City, Balay Mindanaw works for peace-building in conflict-ridden Mindanao. It came to Ormoc to conduct post-disaster relief, rehabilitation and recovery operations after typhoon Yolanda struck the city on Nov. 8, 2013. Its partnership with Brgy. San Juan began on its fourth day of stay in Ormoc.

San Juan is the last barangay in the eastern part 15 kms. from downtown Ormoc. The newly elected barangay officials trooped to City Hall to ask for help. Incidentally, Balay Mindanaw’s Quick Assessment Team was there in search of partner communities that are severely affected by Yolanda and were yet to receive aid.

It was the beginning of a year-long partnership between the barangay and NGO. The following week, 775 food packs were distributed to families while shelter repair kits were given to 520 households. Johanitter gave wheelchairs to eight persons with disabilities from six sitios.

San Juan also benefitted from a medical mission by Johanniter’s Medical Emergency Response Team and volunteer of Philippine Nurses Association Misamis Oriental chapter. Other donors came to provide construction materials to help the residents rebuild their homes.

The construction supplies proved to be more than enough for households that the barangay officials decided to use the excess materials to fix the damaged community facilities. The roofs of six churches and a new fully-functional tanod outpost benefited from the spare materials.

“The cement used was a leftover from the classroom construction of Save the Children (another NGO),” Barangay Chairman Efrenia Cantero said, pointing to an unfinished building that would be a daycare center. “The plywood and the galvanized iron sheets are from Johanniter and Balay Mindanaw.”

 
The rehabilitation of the barangay facilities are far from being finished though, considering what was done is merely patchwork. One old classroom in the school has not been reconstructed while the Barangay Hall is still roofless.

UNDP gives capital equip’t to small businesses

UNDP Ormoc Hub Coordinator Dario Cubilo and Ciriaco Tolibao, community affairs assistant of the Barangay Affairs Office hand over a rice cooker to a beneficiary. Also in photo are City Administrator Francis Pepito and UNDP Project Officer Carmela Belonio. (Photo by Sally Caberos)

THE United Nations Development Program turned over P4 million worth of equipment to 27 small entrepreneurs as part of its “Micro Enterprises and Cooperative Capital Asset Provision”  with the People of Japan as financing partner. The beneficiaries are small businesses affected by typhoon Yolanda.

The equipment are eight refrigerators, six rice cookers 5-kl. Capacity, four sets 2-burner gas stoves with gas tanks, three welding machines, two freezers, two ovens, two glass displays, two hand drills, a washing machine, battery charger, hand grinder, combination wrench and combination tool set. The business beneficiaries are 12 eateries, five repair shops, five stores, two bakeshops, a dress shop and auto shop.

Plaza not closed to the public, Pepito clarifies

CITY administrator Francis Pepito denied that the local government unit (LGU) closed down the seaside plaza where buses and vans-for-hire (V-hire) have been allowed to park, and load and unload passengers while the rehabilitation of the bus and jeepney terminals is going on. 

Pepito made the comment in view of criticisms surrounding the decision to relocate the buses, mini-buses and V-hires to the park. According to him, the move was a result of the consensus reached by stakeholders made up of drivers and conductors, bearing in mind the convenience of their passengers.

In the first place, this is not the first time that the plaza was used as temporary terminal, Pepito said. Second, the situation will last only for three months while the repair of the bus and jeepney terminals is underway. Third, the LGU made sure that the vehicles are parked in an orderly manner that will not inconvenience passengers and park-goers alike.

When informed that charges are being contemplated to be filed against the LGU over the issue, Pepito who is a lawyer replied: "Nganong mukiha man nga wa man ta magtinonto?” adding that there is no need to pass an ordinance to utilize the plaza as a temporary terminal.

Pepito also said that the executive branch of the LGU hasn’t received any complaint regarding the matter from the 13^th Sangguniang Panlungsod with which it maintains an open communication. Repair of the twin terminals began last Feb. 2 after sustaining heavy damage from typhoon Yolanda.

Pepito says he welcomes moves from councilors, if any, to pass an ordinance prohibiting the use of the plaza as a terminal, but adds it would be better if the measure will be comprehensive enough to regulate all activities in the area so that the LGU will be guided in the future.