OFFICE TRANSFER A NIGHTMARE FOR DENR EMPLOYEES

Submitted by courage_phil on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 07:11.

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

The haste with which the government is set to implement the proposed
transfer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region-4B (MIMAROPA)
to Calapan Mindoro Oriental is causing endless nightmares for the DENR’s more
than 1,000 employees. After all, Executive Order 682 clearly stated that said
transfer shall commence on July 15 until August only of this year.

 

We, the undersigned unions and associations would like to register our
strong opposition to the plan which we believe is capricious, costly and
tantamount to lay-off.

 

The DENR property in Roxas Boulevard which houses the DENR 4B and other
Bureaus like the Environment Management Bureau-4B and Mines and Geosciences
Bureau-4B, has already withstand three Administrations since it was relocated
from Quezon Avenue in Quezon City in 1990. 
The Php100 million needed to implement the planned transfer at this time
that the country is reeling from the global financial crisis (in fact, about to
enter recession) is simply misplaced.

 

The transfer is also said to be being railroaded in time for Mrs.
Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address. Remember the super regions she bragged
about in her last SONA? The office transfer would form part of her supposed
accomplishment report, of the regions getting their share of the nation’s
progress.

 

Progress for whom? The offices’ main clients who are supposed to benefit
from the transfer would be more inconvenienced because there are no direct
trips from Calapan. They would have to go to Manila first before they can
proceed to any of the MIMAROPA islands. 

 

Because there is simply no sense or reason, the administration has also
attempted but failed miserably to transfer various Departments (DAR to Iloilo,
DA to Isabela, DepEd to Bicol, etc..) to the regions.  

 

And more importantly we ask, what progress are they talking about when
some 1,000 plus employees and their families would become part of the country’s
ballooning unemployment data and hunger statistics? The order of transfer meant
either the employees go, pack their things and uproot their families in the
National Capital Region or they resign.

 

The Arroyo administration indeed thinks poorly of the government
employees. It insulted the DENR employees who have given the best of their
productive life in public service by offering a measly separation pay. Like the
rest of the government employees, they will opt to fight for their jobs and not
settle for a separation or retirement package which they are entitled to
anyway, in the right time, of their own choice.

 

The government will not stop unless the 1.5 million employees are cut by
more than half. It temporarily halted the implementation of E.O. 366 or the
bureaucracy wide rationalization plan because of the widespread protests from
the employees and negative public opinion it generated in the midst of the
massive lay-off brought about by the crisis. Now, it is using various forms to achieve
the same through transfer, mergers, abolition, dissolution and deactivation of
offices and privatization.

 

But we shall never allow the massacre of our jobs. We stand by and
support the DENR-4B employees’ unwavering commitment to oppose their office
transfer, for the employees’ sake and the public they vow to serve. 

 

We believe that if there’s anybody who has to be separated from the
government and resign now, it’s Mrs. Arroyo. 
#