SOCSKSARGEN government unions protest “oppressive” budget memo

By COCOY SEXCION

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (January 27, 2012) - Government employees’ unions from all over SOCSKSARGEN launched a signature campaign among their members Wednesday (January 25) in a petition protesting Budget Circular No. 2011-05 they dubbed as “oppressive”.

The Department of Budget and Management issued Budget Circular No. 2011-05 on December 26, 2011 providing for supplemental guidelines on the grant of Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentives.

The guidelines stipulate that “savings from only the following MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expense) items may be used as fund source of the CNA incentives such as Travelling Allowance, Communication Allowance, Repair and Maintenance, Transportation and Delivery expense, Supplies and Materials and Utility expense.”

The unions claimed the granting of CNA incentives has become impossible under the accounts mentioned which were usually used up at the end of each year, according to Anacleto Saya-ang.

Saya-ang, president of Sarangani Province Employees Union (SPEU), also said that savings would unlikely happen for the MOOE fund source which are reduced by 10% yearly. Not to mention the continuing hikes of oil prices and other supplies needed for operation.

The government union leaders highlighted the “oppressive” budget circular in the petition presented January 25 during their regular monthly meeting at Mindanao State University High School campus.

The union leaders represented the entire SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City).

Also present during the meeting were Nur Juanday, president of General Santos City Employees Association; Tomas Robles, presiding officer and president of Public Sector Employees Alliance of SOCSKSARGEN; Felix Cabuguas of Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association; Edward Barrios, president of Surralah Municipal Employees Union Association; and Edna Guiñares, president of Tupi Municipal Employees Union and other municipal employees union leaders from provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

The petition was addressed to President Benigno Aquino, the Secretary of Department of Budget and Management and the Public Sector Labor Management Council.

“The Order is a violation to the resolution of PSLMC (Public Sector Labor-Management Council) in which the DBM is just a member,” said Robles.

“By doing this petition, more or less, other members of PSLMC will be aware that their resolution is violated by the DBM circular.” Robles added.

The PSLMC, constituted under Executive Order No. 180, is composed primarily by the Secretaries of Justice, Budget and Management, Labor and Employment and the chairperson of Civil Service Commission with sectoral representations for the NGA’s GOCC, LGU and SUC.

The unionists target to finish the signature drive before the end of the month. The signed petition will be submitted to PSLMC in time for its meeting in Manila this February. Exact date is yet to be confirmed said Ramon Villa, SPEU director. For more news and updates, please visit to www.sarangani.gov.ph (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)