• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya has issued administrative actions against 12 city hall employees following various reports of unprofessionalism, neglect of duty, and habitual absenteeism.
City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed the move and said that the disciplinary measures are part of the local government’s push for accountability and integrity in public service.
Among those facing disciplinary measures are two physicians from the City Health Office (CHO).
One medical officer received a show-cause order (SCO) for allegedly using demeaning and offensive language, including profanity, toward staff members during a meeting.
A second doctor also received the order for ‘conduct unbecoming of a public servant’ following a complaint from a patient’s mother regarding the humiliating, insensitive, and public treatment of a rape victim.
In the Tourism Office, a tourism operations officer has been served a formal charge for neglect of duty and misconduct involving an unliquidated cash advance totaling P2.5 million.
Four employees from the City Engineer’s Office, including supply officers and storekeepers, have been formally charged with neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The charges stem from an incident involving the 4,600 bags of unutilized hardened or expired cement discovered during an inventory at a warehouse in Bacolod City College in September 2025.
At the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, one employee was handed a six-month suspension following a case involving ‘fixing’ activities.
Although the employee has since filed for retirement, the suspension was upheld in consideration of his length of service and previous record.
The General Services Office saw the heaviest personnel cuts, with three utility workers being terminated due to unauthorized absences dating as far back as 2023.
A nursing attendant at the CHO also received a show-cause order for habitual tardiness and accumulating approximately 75 days of unauthorized absences.
Chiu urged all city employees to serve the public with dedication and professionalism, noting that the mayor himself sets the standard for hard work and proper conduct.*
