The city council asserted personnel of the Peace and Order and Safety Division (POSD) under the City Mayor’s Office should be given an opportunity for character building by attending seminars and other related activities.
In a resolution, the council requested the City Human Resource Management Office to look for ways to include the POSD personnel in seminars, job orientations, and other related activities conducted by the city government to “professionalize” the enforcement unit.
Asst. CHRM-Officer Edith Dawaten said there are character-building programs conducted by the city government for its employees, however, the 101 personnel of the POSD are not covered by Civil Service Commission rules and regulations as they are under a job order status, and as such, seminars and programs provided by the city government do not apply to them.
City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente said there was an attempt to convert the personnel’s status from “job order” to “casual” in 2018 but this did not materialize.
Because of their job order status, the city government cannot provide the POSD personnel assistance and other benefits as there is no employer-employee relationship between them and the city government, Clemente added.
Councilor Benny Bomogao said the city government should be more flexible and “creative” in finding ways to provide benefits for the POSD personnel.
“They (POSD personnel) provide direct services to the city,” Bomogao said.
The council members recalled that there was a proposed ordinance filed by then councilor Edgar Avila seeking to create the Mayor’s Anti-Crime Task and Security Force in lieu of the POSD.
The proposal sought to “clothe” such unit with legal authority and to define its mission, functions, and responsibilities in coordination with other concerned offices in coordination with other concerned offices to effectively combat crimes and other violations of city ordinances.
The proposed ordinance is pending before the council committee on peace and order.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said the proposed ordinance will be referred to the executive department for refinement. – Jordan G. Habbiling
