Barangay workers of Umapad in Mandaue City staged a protest on the delay in the release of their salary for ten months already. 

The employees have put up streamers and placards in the premises of the Barangay Hall expressing their concern and dismay.

The barangay employees said that with the ten months delay they are already “deep in debt” while they struggled to keep their jobs. 

A number of employees, though, have left their posts.

The delay stemmed from a payroll that has continued to be unsigned by the chairperson of the Sangguniang Barangay Committee on Budget, according to Barangay Chairman Reb Cortes.

The Local Government Unit of Mandaue City has already absorbed a number of affected employees to its workforce, said Atty. Jamaal James Calipayan, city administrator.

“Ang point ana is gitrabahuan na man nas mga tawo, gigastohan na na og singot ug oras,” Atty. Calipayan said. 

In a statement in the afternoon of October 14, 2024, the chairperson of the Sangguniang Barangay Committee on Budget said that the release of the salary from September 2024 was already signed, approved, and concurred at the barangay council. However, the salary for the period prior to September 2024 is yet to be settled based on the opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the proper procedure.

It was learned that the Local Government Code does not prescribe release of retroactive salaries.

Further, barangay services have been dealt with accordingly by the Barangay Affairs.

The barangay chairman has asked assistance from the City Hall on fuel for garbage trucks in the collection of trash, and other operational concerns.