Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Monday announced that the local government is now preparing to regularize city hall employees who were hired as contractual workers for 15 years and more.
In a Facebook live, Sotto assured that all employees who have been working as contractuals for a very long period of time deserve to get permanent positions.
Sotto, meanwhile, apologized for some delays in the processing of the paperwork due to the current health crisis.
“Basta umuusad tayo, okay lang. May delay man, hindi natin maiiwasan, nasa health crisis tayo, nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, nasa public health emergency, basta umuusad, ganun din naman sa ibang proyekto at programa ng pamahalaan (As long as we are in progress, it’s okay. Even if there are some delays, we can’t avoid it since we’re in a health crisis, we are in the middle of a pandemic, in a public health emergency, but we are making progress. This is also the same with other government projects and programs),” he said.
He noted that the city government is working on it one step at a time amid the pandemic.
“Slowly but surely, umuusad tayo, paabante ang direksyon natin (we are moving forward in our direction),” he added.
The move also includes employees’ salary adjustments which are aligned with the salary standardization law.
The city government will “retroact” salaries from January as stated under the law, he said, particularly with nurses’ salaries.
Sotto urged other employees to express any concern or complaint by following the proper process.
They can send their concerns through the “Ugnayan sa Pasig” or to the city administrator’s office.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na lahat mapagbibigyan pero lahat pakikinggan at pag nakita natin na maaksyunan at pwedeng aksyunan, gagawin po natin yan (I am not saying that everyone’s concerns will be granted but everyone will be heard and when we see that action can be taken, we will do that),” he said.
Sotto earlier signed 100 appointment papers of newly-regularized employees of the city government who have been working for 20 years and more.
Health protocols
On the other hand, Sotto reminded anew residents of the minimum health standards and precautions to be observed under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
Sotto said only essential travelers are allowed to go out during GCQ.
He discouraged residents to attend birthday parties or any of the same gathering.
“Every time we avoid close contact, we might be saving a life [by staying home he said],” he said, advising his constituents to better stay home and go out only when necessary.
Sotto said those who will be riding public transportation are required to wear a face mask and face shield.
Bicycle riders, meanwhile, are not required to wear a face shield while cycling, he said.
Restaurant businesses are allowed to operate with 30 percent of their capacity, he added.
Although dine-in policies are allowed, he advised the public to better “take out” foods from the establishments instead of consuming it on the area.
Wet market policies
Sotto said beginning August 25, the local government will regulate the movement of people going to the Pasig Mega Market under the Executive Order 43, imposing a market coding scheme.
Under the local order, market-goers of selected barangays are allowed to enter the public market only on their scheduled days, at a maximum of three times per week.
Beginning August 31, the Pasig mega-market will be closed every Monday for disinfection protocols, he said.
Pasig’s loan program
Furthermore, Sotto announced that the local government will soon release the granted loans under the city’s Tulong at Pampuhunang Ayuda sa Taga-Pasig (TAPAT) program, through electronic payment (e-payment).
Sotto, however, appealed for patience over some delays in the processing of loans due to the unexpected reimposition of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“Pagpasensyahan niyo na po kung madedelay ng konti ang importante makakarating po yan at siguro sakto na ang dating niyan kung kailan niyo na kailangan ang puhunan para makapagnegosyo kayo, para makapaghanap kayo ng trabaho (Please be patient for some delays, the important thing is it will be released soon and you may receive it right when you already needed business investments or to find jobs),” he said.
The local government will be partnering with the PayMaya enterprise to distribute the small loan offers via an e-payment method.
The local government earlier allotted a PHP200-million budget to provide financial loans to about 20,000 to 40,000 residents hard-hit by the health crisis.
More healthcare workers
Sotto, meanwhile, said the local government is still in need of additional healthcare workers and other medical staff to run the additional buildings of the Pasig’s centralized quarantine.
Sotto called on health workers looking for a job and medical doctors who own a small clinic who are willing to help run the city’s centralized quarantine facilities, to apply in Pasig.
He noted that the arrangement for hiring healthcare workers is “contract of service.”
Pasig is also hiring medical technologists in preparation for the opening of the Pasig Molecular Laboratory.
Sotto urged interested healthcare professionals to send their applications through email via [email protected].
Non-Pasig residents are welcome to apply for the medical jobs, Sotto said. (PNA)