THE “GHOST” workers issue at Bacolod City Hall — now known as the New Government Center — is not fiction. It’s real. For some, it’s an open secret. For others, it remains a hush-hush reality, often dismissed as just another episode in Bacolod’s political telenovela.
But let’s set the record straight: when we talk about “ghost” workers in Bacolod, we’re referring to a select few among the thousands of job hires or job order (JO) workers. Yes, they exist. And yes, they’re the so-called chosen ones.
So, who are they?
They vary depending on who sits as mayor. Like regular project-based workers, they are on paper receiving P9,000 per month. The only difference? They don’t actually report for work.
Why? Because they are beneficiaries of political accommodation.
This long-standing tradition in Bacolod — of maintaining ghost workers — has persisted since time immemorial. These individuals are often considered “secret weapons” during election season, quietly mobilized when the campaign gears up.
A ‘Shocking Ad-lib’
Then enters Greg Gasataya, Bacolod’s 44th mayor. During his inaugural address on June 28, Greg stunned many with a bold, off-script declaration: “No to ‘ghost’ JOs!”
Rewind a bit: Greg was once a cub reporter-turned-anchor at Bombo Radyo. His beat? Bacolod City Hall, from 1993 to 2001. He’s no stranger to City Hall’s inner workings — then and now — including the notorious “ghost” hiring practices.
He also served as a three-term city councilor, vice mayor, acting mayor, and congressman before assuming the mayorship. With that kind of résumé, Greg has more than enough insider knowledge to wage war against the deeply embedded system of “ghost” employment.
No More Just Hanging Around
On Monday, July 7, Greg held his first press conference as mayor. There, he once again took a firm stand against ghost workers, issuing a stern warning to anyone eyeing a JO position at City Hall.
“If you’re employed by the city, you must actually report for work — you can’t just wait around and then expect to be paid at the end of the month,” Greg emphasized.
He also made it clear that under his administration, screening for JO applicants will be much stricter.
“Our funds are not limitless. We cannot just hire anyone without proper process. We will only hire based on the funds that are available,” he stressed.
In recent years, the number of JO workers in Bacolod ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 — sometimes even peaking at 6,000, according to records I personally reviewed. Alarmingly, an unimpeachable City Hall source revealed that around 30% of those hires were considered ghosts.
Final Resolve
Former mayor — and now congressman — Albee Benitez also vowed to eliminate ghost workers as part of his “Change is Coming” platform. Now comes Greg.
His resolve? To end this decades-old political tradition that drains city government funds for nothing.
Greg’s words sound praiseworthy. But as always, proof lies in action. Abangan.
So far, on record, Greg’s 12-day-old administration (as of today) has hired 1,900 JO workers—noticeably fewer than what his predecessors typically employed.
Sailing a Sea of Transparency
Greg’s vow to become Bacolod’s “ghostbuster” mayor reflects his intent to usher in a new era of honest and transparent governance — one where public service is not tainted by graft or corruption.
Such commitment is crucial. It means navigating a “sea of transparency” often plagued by political temptations and vested interests. As the great playwright Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “Commitment is an act, not a word.”
So, Greg’s decision to break the silence and slay this whispery tradition of ghost JOs deserves recognition — and public support. In his first term as mayor, this will be a defining issue. The people of Bacolod will be watching.
The question: Will Greg win the fight against ghost workers at City Hall?
The answer: Watch him work!/PN
