Makati gov’t promotes casuals after 29 years

After almost three decades of working for the city government, 67 casual employees of the Makati Public Safety Department (Mapsa) were finally promoted as regular workers by the city government’s Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) and Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Corazon Cortez, who has been serving as a traffic aide in the city since 1987, will now receive a total of P12,018.82 a month, or about P2,000 more than her previous salary when she was still a contractual employee, City Hall said in a statement Thursday.

Cortez was just one of the Mapsa employees who have been working on a contractual basis for the city government for the past 20 to 29 years, according to Elmer Cabrera, officer in charge of the Makati City Public Safety Department (PSD).

Their regularization and promotion took effect last Feb. 1, Cabrera said.

“This regularization and promotion of our traffic enforcers and personnel is long overdue,” said Makati Mayor Romulo Peña. “Serving the city for several years, ensuring the safety and security of our motorists and commuters alike and working under the scorching sun, giving them a security of tenure and a promotion, is just a small act of gratitude on the part of the city government.”

Cabrera said the upgrade in the employment status of the Mapsa officers should result in a more efficient delivery of public services and ultimately benefit motorists and commuters in the city.

The city government also informed its remaining casual and contractual employees that they are now entitled to a 10-day paid leave, which was previously enjoyed only by regular employees.

After assuming the post as mayor in July last year following the suspension of Junjun Binay, Peña also granted city employees a productivity enhancement incentive (PEI), a bonus  equal to their one-month salary. Maricar B. Brizuela and John Cyril Yee