MISAMIS Oriental’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan is now also affected by the delayed wages experienced by provincial capitol employees.

On Monday, July 28, Board Member Dexter Yasay expressed dismay in a special report, emphasizing the non-release of their wages and those of other capitol employees.

The Government Social Insurance System (GSIS) has not been paid, prompting the agency to text employees advising them to make payments.

Yasay said that as early as July 14, they had already approved the executive’s request for the necessary documents for capitol employees’ salaries.

“Dapat pagka July 15, naka sweldo na ang mga empleyado,” Yasay said.

It can be recalled that last month, capitol employees took to social media to voice concerns about the fate of their clothing allowance and midyear bonus which payment to them were already long overdue.

Yasay revealed that the necessary papers for the wages were returned to their office because Gov. Juliette Uy did not want Vice Gov. Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez’s name included as a signatory.

DELAYED WAGES. Misamis Oriental Board Member Dexter Yasay on Monday, July 28, discusses the ongoing delay in employee salaries. Yasay said Gov. Juliette Uy requested Vice Gov. Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez be removed from the list of authorized signatories for payroll documents, impacting both employees and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

“Naa ang pangalan ni vice-gov as one of the authorized signatories, ang gusto sa atong gobernadora nga sama sa lungsod sa Villanueva nga sila gapirma tanan,” Yasay claimed.

Yasay expressed frustration, stating that in law, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has jurisdiction.

He said the purpose of including the vice governor and even the provincial administrator as signatories is to authorize them to sign special documents, such as those for wages, when the governor is unavailable.

“You are undermining the vice-governor as the appointing officer,” Yasay said.

Meanwhile, a capitol employee, identified only as ‘Mara,’ who wished not to be named, said she was saddened that her July salary had not been received.

She added that all of them had been texted by the GSIS about their monthly payment.

“Gi texan pa gyud mi sa GSIS, makaluya kaayo,” Mara said.

According to her, their wages typically arrive every July 25. She expressed sadness that it was almost August 1 and they still had no salary.

Vice Gov. Pelaez, for his part, expressed concern that the delayed remittance to GSIS would result in penalties.

“Mag penalty baya na,” Pelaez said in a text message to Gold Star Daily.