BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Neophyte Mayor Benjie Miranda is open for a dialogue with members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, regarding issues raised on the non-hiring of city residents at the City Hall.
Miranda stressed that the City Mayor’s Office is open, should they want a dialogue with him.
The Kabankalan City Council passed a resolution on its July 18 session, expressing their dismay and disappointment over the hiring of non-city residents by for employment in various positions at the City Hall.
Miranda, who accused them of bullying him, said that members of the Kabankalan City Council can talk to him as long as his schedule is available.
He justified the hiring of 18 non-residents of Kabankalan City, which he said part of his transition team.
While he respects their sentiments, Miranda admitted that he was hurt by the resolution approved by the City Council.
Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco earlier clarified that there is no politics in the passage of the resolution, and stressed that the City Council wants to convey a message that Kabankalanons should be given preference in the hiring of workers.
When he declared that he will not terminate any employee hired by the previous administration upon assumption of office, Miranda said he was neither recognized by the City Council nor thanked for doing so.
Miranda recalled that when he declared his candidacy as mayor of Kabankalan City, his uncle and two siblings were terminated from service by the previous administration.
While he employed some non-city residents, Miranda pointed out that he is prioritizing Kabankalanons, in hiring of workers, as they gave him the mandate to serve as the local chief executive.
“I want them to be loyal to their jobs, and not to me, or the past administration,” he said.*
