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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Friday, January 20, 2017
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BACOLOD City – City councilors will look into the alleged non-release of the emergency cost of living allowance (Ecola) of public school teachers.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod set a committee hearing on the issue next week, but not before two councilors had a squabble over a resolution asking Mayor Evelio Leonardia to fast-track the Ecola release.
Claudio Puentevella, author of the resolution, cited the “silent protest” that several teachers held at city hall grounds last week.
A president of a teachers’ association claimed they have not received three quarters’ worth of Ecola in 2016.
Renecito Novero, education committee chairman, proposed that Puentevella’s resolution be referred to his committee.
“Factual and legal issues” surrounding the Ecola must be considered, Novero said.
But Puentevella insisted that the body approve his resolution. He told Novero to file his own resolution if he wants.
Novero argued that floor leader Caesar Distrito referred the resolution to him and that approving it will not solve the problem. Leonardia does not process the Ecola, so he cannot fast-track its release, Novero stressed.
Puentevella’s insistence was all for naught. His resolution was rejected, and the city council approved another — filed by Novero — seeking an inquiry led by the committee on education instead.
Novero said his committee will invite all councilors, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, teachers under the Department of Education – Division of Bacolod City, and several city government department heads.
There was no definite date as of press time, said Novero.
Gualberto Dajao, president of the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Federation and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Negros, told Novero last week his colleagues were wondering if and when their Ecola was going to be released.
They also want Mario Espaniola, a Management and Accounting Services Office auditor, assigned to another office. He allegedly humiliated them when they followed up about their Ecola, Novero said.
Dajao accused Espaniola of delaying the release. The teachers’ leader claimed the auditor believes the Ecola is “illegal.”
Each public school teacher gets a P2,000 Ecola a month: P700 from the Special Education Fund (SEF) and P1,300 from the general fund, Dajao said. They wondered why they stopped receiving it in June 2016.
Espaniola explained that only public school teachers hired in 1997 and earlier are qualified for the P2,000 Ecola. The auditor cited a court order issued during the Oscar Verdeflor administration.
Teachers hired in 1998 and later are not entitled to the Ecola from the SEF, only the P1,300 from the general fund, he said, citing an Audit Observation Memorandum from the Commission on Audit.
Espaniola advised the public school teachers to classify their payrolls.
The easier he could identify who deserves what Ecola, the faster he could sign the payrolls, said the auditor./PN
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