City govt allocates P10.6-M for security, janitors

• Source: http://zamboangatimes.ph/top-news/20933-city-govt-allocates-p106-m-for-security-janitors.html
• Saturday, May 13, 2017

By Vic Larato

The city government of Zamboanga has appropriated the amount of P10.6-million in its upcoming supplemental budget for the salary increase of private security and janitorial services.

City Budget Officer Ferdinando Alvarez announced during the press briefing Monday that the supplemental budget includes an allocation of P8.7-million for security services and P1.9-million for janitorial services to conform to the minimum wage order of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The city government currently has a total of 191 security and 81 janitors from different private agencies.

The controversy came about after it was found out the city government’s contracts for private security and janitorial services were below the minimum wage rates pegged by the DOLE.

However, City General Services Officer Engr. Rene dela Cruz explained that the DOLE issued the new minimum wage order in October 2016 but the city government prepared the budget as early as July.

Hence, he said the city is paying the old salary rate. “But, we have now included in the supplemental budget additional appropriation for the salary adjustment of security and janitorial services to conform to DOLE’s new wage order.