Newsbriefs

CASUALS TO BE EXTENDED TO TWO MONTHS

CEBU City Hall’s Human Resource and Development Office (HRDO) considered extending by two months the contracts of 40 of 300 casual employees.

“We hope to already complete our re-evaluation of appeals within the week so we can submit our recommendations to Mayor Michael Rama,” HRDO head Dominic Diño said.

He said those who appealed for reconsideration will have their records assessed and should prove they didn’t join any campaign activities in violation of Civil Service Commission laws.

Rama said he wanted 2,500 or the 3, 308 casual employees already replaced.

Last Monday, the mayor’s core group identified about 300 casuals to be sacked but Diño said the number could still go down.

“We cannot hire more than the allowed 45 percent ceiling on personal services. We will only fill what has been vacated. We will also find out which services are feasible for outsourcing,” he said.

Diño said outsourcing was already done during the administration of former mayor Tomas Osmeña. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

DAVIDE, RAMA PLEDGE SUPPORT

ASSURANCES of support and mutual cooperation were exchanged between Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in a brief meeting before they assumed office last Monday.

“We would unite for the good of Cebu,” Davide told reporters.

He said the meeting happened over breakfast and was cut short after Rama rushed to a meeting with City Hall department heads.

Davide worked with Rama in the Cebu City Council.

He said issues like the 93-1 lots and the ownership claims of the Fuente Osmeña Circle and the Cebu City Zoo were not discussed.

Earlier, Rama said he is prepared to work with Davide to resolve the problem of 5,000 occupants of city lots covered by the Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

The Dec. 19 suspension of former Cebu Gov. and now 3rd district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia suspended negotiations with the urban poor occupants who want to buy the province-owned lots. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos