City Hall to set up grievance center

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/07/05/city-hall-set-grievance-center-483636
• Tuesday, July 5, 2016

By Rona Joyce T. Fernandez

AS PART of his plans to reinvent the Cebu City Government, Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to legitimize fixing in City Hall.

He also warned city employees that their services will be terminated if they are caught stealing or practicing extortion.

In a news conference last Monday, Osmeña said he will establish a Department of Fixers that will serve as the people’s sumbungan (grievance) center.

The fixers will be composed of personnel who have no history of fixing. They will provide free services to those who wish to avail themselves of their assistance.

“So unsay imong problema (whatever your problem is), you want something fixed, you go there, but we will do it in a controlled way and you cannot bribe them,” he said.

Hotline numbers

The fixers will also receive calls sent to the hotline numbers the City Hall will provide to address reports on alleged extortion and stealing by City employees.

Osmeña said he wants to adopt the same system in Ontario, Canada where you can call any government office without the receiver telling you that they can’t answer your queries because you have the wrong number.

By legitimizing fixing, he said they hope to discover problems in the service City employees provide.

“The moment you go there, you will be registered. Your complaint will be brought in, a case will be developed. You’ll be assigned a fixer. We’re looking at it as if the City is your waiter that will not reason out but just provide you your needs,” he said.

As for the City employees, the mayor said he wants them to follow his general rule: don’t get caught.

Regardless of the amount and value, Osmeña said he will immediately terminate the services of those who are caught. They won’t get a second chance, he added.

“One of the worst is in CCMC (Cebu City Medical Center). From syringe, to used dextrose. I don’t care if that’s one bed sheet. Fine, steal but if you get caught, you’re fired,” he said.