Hired "JO's" and "Casuals" kept within designated scope
Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede defends hiring of 11,000 personnel, addressing concerns raised by the incoming administration regarding workforce size and cost. Despite the large workforce, Bercede ensured the City remained within legal limits and the budget. The City's budget allocated P938.96 million for personnel services, amounting to just 20.87% of the total budget.
In an interview on May 28, 2025, Bercede maintained that the City's expenditures on personnel services remained below the 45% ceiling mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991. He acknowledged potential changes under the new administration of Mayor-elect Thadeo "Jonkie" Ouano, which he considers a natural part of governance.
Bercede confirmed that all newly hired individuals, including job order workers, casuals, Clean and Green personnel, and Planning and Development Office (PDO) staff, were actively working and not just receiving salaries without fulfilling their duties. The City's transition team, led by incoming Administrator Sally Malig-on, expressed concerns about the "excessive" staffing, paying close to 11,000 workers despite only around 1,000 permanent positions.
Critics argue that even a modest reduction in personnel could result in significant savings of potentially hundreds of millions of pesos that could be redirected to essential services like medicines and hospital infrastructure. One area of concern raised by the transition team was the Purok Development Office (PDO), employing over 5,000 individuals.
Of these, 639 were PDO officials receiving P4,500 monthly, while around 4,500 members were paid P1,000 each per month. Malig-on questioned the relevance and function of these individuals, suggesting they may have been used for political purposes during the election season.
However, Bercede countered that the PDO has long served a vital community function, asserting that it has significantly assisted the community, especially in Mandaue and other cities and municipalities across the country. A full review of the City's staffing is set to commence once Ouano officially takes office on June 30.
Incompatibilities in staffing and personnel costs might lead to issues such as allegations of nepotism, misuse of funds, or budget mismanagement, potentially straining public trust and requiring reform. The incoming administration could address these issues by conducting thorough audits, implementing transparent hiring processes and budget management practices, introducing reform policies, and engaging with the public for collaboration and support.
In the interview on May 28, 2025, Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede defended the city's policy-and-legislation regarding personnel services, mentioning that it remains below the 45% ceiling mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991. The incoming administration, led by Mayor-elect Thadeo "Jonkie" Ouano, has expressed concerns about the general-news of the City's Cebu staffing, particularly in the Purok Development Office, and has plans to conduct audits, implement reforms, and engage with the public for collaboration and support in addressing these issues.
