Rightsizing at Cebu City Hall starts

Local

Cebu City workers to behind comprehensive performance evaluation.

The so-called honeymoon period for workers of the Cebu City government is over as Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced the commencement of a comprehensive performance evaluation.

During the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall on Monday, August 12, Garcia declared that the Human Resource and Development Office (HRDO) would lead the evaluation of all employees, including those on Job Orders (JO), casual, and plantilla positions.

Garcia emphasized that the outcome of these assessments would be crucial in deciding which employees will remain with the city government. He stated that by the end of September and into October, the administration would determine who would be renewed and who would not.

He observed during his rounds in the city that some employees were not performing their duties effectively, while others had overlapping roles. He stressed the need for an honest evaluation to ensure that only productive and essential employees are retained.

To ensure a thorough and fair evaluation process, Garcia will form his own evaluation committee in addition to the HRDO's efforts. This team will begin assessments next week, making rounds from one department to another to review job descriptions and functions.

Garcia also mentioned that he had received feedback about the overall performance of City Hall employees but refrained from sharing details until the evaluation committee is fully established. He assured employees that those not renewed would have the opportunity to appeal their cases.

The city is currently in the process of filling 2,000 vacant plantilla positions, addressing a Commission on Audit (COA) report that flagged 2,311 unfilled positions, amounting to P2.192 billion in unutilized funds.

As of now, only 1,334 of the 3,645 approved plantilla positions are filled, representing 36.6 percent. Cebu City Hall employs 1,321 permanent employees and 2,776 casual workers.

Garcia reiterated his commitment to the downsizing program, urging employees to perform their duties diligently and emphasizing the seriousness of the upcoming evaluation.

In response to the COA report, Garcia has directed the Personnel Selection Board to expedite the hiring process for permanent positions, ensuring compliance with recommendations from both the Civil Service Commission and COA to hire more regular employees.(MyTVCebu)