CONTRARY to rumors and criticism by his detractors, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy said today that he gave a six-month extension to City Hall’s job order and casual workers even if their contracts were supposed to end last June.
“(As I mentioned during flag-raising programs), I extended the contracts of the casuals and JOs even if their contracts were supposed to end on June 30. It’s a common political occurrence (in our country) that whenever there’s a change in administration, new workers are hired by the incoming officials,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.
Mayor Uy reiterated his position during his Friday radio program that the contracts of City Hall’s JOs and casual employees ended last December 31 and that no one was indiscriminately dismissed from service.
“(If I was as heartless as my detractors claim) I wouldn’t have given the casuals and job order workers a six-month extension after June,” Uy said in Visayan.
By giving each casual and JO employee a six-month extension, Mayor Uy said what he did ran counter to what is expected.
“When a new administration takes over, all casuals and JOs will be replaced by the incoming officials. But I didn’t do that,” Mayor Uy said.
With the six-month extension, Mayor Uy said the JOs and casuals were able to receive their salaries and benefits due to them and managed to celebrate the holidays.
“Hopefully they acknowledge that as well as the fact that they were not (indiscriminately laid off) since their contracts ended last December 31. Again, I repeat it’s not in my nature to just dismiss anyone because I know how this would affect them financially,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.
Mayor Uy also said the casuals and JOs with expired contracts can still apply for renewal upon assessment of his evaluation team at the mayor’s office.
“Let’s give others the chance to serve as well. This doesn’t mean we won’t rehire those who worked and performed well. Why should I not renew them? But they will undergo an assessment by an evaluation committee,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)