Talisay has no public information officer

The position for public information officer of Talisay City is presently vacant after acting information officer Cynthia Barrit was appointed by Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes as consultant on various projects.

Barrit will still, however, be connected with the Public Information Office as editor of the city's newsletter.

She said she would have liked to pursue the position of information officer, but her application was denied by the Human Resources Office citing eligibility issues.

In fact, she sent a letter to HRO to clarify why she was denied when she said she is a civil service exam passer with the rate of 83 percent.

Barrit argued that she cannot be a director of a government-owned water distribution company for 12 years and a worker at the Department of Trade and Industry in the National Capital Region for two years if she was not eligible.

She added that she will seek assistance from the CSC. In the meantime, she wants the HRO to at least consider her for temporary employment while she is processing her eligibility papers.

In response though, the HRO told Barrit that they just followed what is written and provided for by law.

Barrit's employment as PIO was denied as she could not yet provide a certificate of her eligibility from the Civil Service Commission.

Barrit worked for the PIO for almost four months with a monthly salary of P9,000 with no benefits nor allowances.

Vince Monterde, who was appointed by the City Council, previously worked as Talisay's public information officer but he was transferred to the Office of City Administrator for a new assignment. —