After almost a month of deliberations, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental unanimously approved yesterday the much-awaited reorganization of Capitol employees, without a single question from its members.

The Capitol reorganization calls for the creation of 372 positions, as well as the abolition of 106 positions, SP records show.

The approval on second reading of the ordinance that calls for the reorganization of Capitol employees by the SP in two previous sessions, did not push through because of the delay in the submission of documents and differences in the number of created and abolished positions at the Negros Occidental provincial government.

SP records indicated that a budget of P127,495,605.72 is needed for the 327 newly-created positions, while the abolished positions will cost P35,114,217.66.

The SP regular session yesterday was presided over by Board Member Rolando Ponsica, since Vice-Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker of a graduation ceremony in Bago City.

The passage of the ordinance on second reading, as proposed by Board Miller Serondo, was seconded by Board Member Patrick Lacson, and unanimously approved by the SP members.

In the absence of any question, except a request for clarification from Board Member Helen Zafra, Serondo moved for its elevation to third reading, and also unanimously approved by the SP, including Board Member Renato Gustilo, who had left ahead due to a commitment.

Ponsica said Gustilo informed him that he will vote for the passage of the ordinance, titled “Strengthening the capacity of the executive branch of the provincial government, improving its organization structure and staffing pattern, instituting mechanisms for the smooth implementation process, and for other purposes”.

After its approval, Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado said the reorganization of Capitol employees will be done gradually.

Salado said the Committee on Implementation will soon start the transfer-in, transfer-out scheme, which will affect 161-168 employees, respectively. It will be followed by the abolition of vacant positions.

By 2015, they expect that all positions will be funded, since its budget has already been included in the budget preparations, he added.

Employees assigned at abolished departments will be given priority to occupy created positions, provided they are qualified, to be followed by contractual ones, Salado added.

The Farm Management Livestock Services Division of the Provincial Veterinary Division topped the list with 47 created positions, followed by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist with 38, Provincial Health Office, 32, and Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program Division, 29.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Engineering Office topped the list of having most of the abolished positions with 21, and the Cooperative Office with 15.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan had said earlier that the reorganization of Capitol employees, which had last taken place in 1991, was more of re-engineering or retooling the operations of the provincial government.*GPB

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