Why the delay?
Technical officials have yet to get paid
TECHNICAL officials who served in the Araw ng Dabaw Sportsfest in March and Summer Sports for Peace Festival in May have yet to receive their officiating fees.
The Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) earlier said the fees will be released before June ends.
SDD-CMO supervising administrative officer Luz Imsave P. Obial, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao at her office yesterday, said the Local Finance Committee requested for a fixed standard rate for officials that caused the delay.
“Our office worked hand in hand with the City Budget Office (CBO) and the City Accounting Office (CAO) to make the work more efficient and faster,” she said.
Obial, who assumed her post at the SDD-CMO last May, said, “Hindi yan siya kayang madaliin lalo na’t kelangan naming dumaan sa process before maipalabas ang budget.”
It took a while before Manila-based national sports association (NSAs) from Manila provided them fixed rates for officials. It was not easy on their part since some groups don’t have rates, thus, they have to formulate one.
“Kino-question kami ng City Budget Office kung bakit sa tagal na namin nagcoconduct ng sports activities wala pala kaming standard rates of compensation for officials,” she added.
SDD-CMO forwarded a proposal of rates to the Budget office last May 5 but the papers were returned to their office for several changes.
The changes of rates were sent to the City Budget Office on June 25 and was then forwarded to the City Accounting Office for verification.
Obial said, “Marami pang dadaanan yung docu- ments. The City Administrator’s Office and City Treasurer’s Offfice will still look ito it before the last verdict with the Local Finance Committee.”
The documents were returned to the sports office recently with minor changes. As of yesterday, the documents were sent again to the accounting office, hopeful that it won’t have revisions.
“What we are doing now is that we are currently having our evaluations with NSA members requirements in order to release the budget immediately once it is approved,” Obial said.
SDD-CMO officer-incharge William “Butch” Ramirez and Obial, on the other hand, cannot guarantee when the budget will be released.
A representative from City Accounting Office said they should not be blame for the delay of their budget and added that they only process the documents being forwarded to them.
Coach Charlie, a Balibolista de Dabaw official, said he will no longer officiate programs of the city government of Davao ever again.
Obial, for her part, understood the side of the officials but she assured them that they will be paid even if they will not officiate in upcoming Kadayawan sportsfest anymore.
“Nagpunta dito si Jun Paholio kanina tapos sabi niya magpapalit daw siya ng officials for cycling kasi ayaw na nilang mag-officiate ulit,” Obial added.
They have already oriented NSA members during a meeting last week that they’re okay with the proposition to change their respective officials as long as they will submit the new list of names.
SDD-CMO apologized anew for the inconvenience the delay of officiating fees has caused them.