SENATOR Joel Villanueva has expressed concern over the high number of contract-of-service and job-order project-based workers in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), an agency tasked with implementing the government’s infrastructure programs.
During a public hearing of the Finance Subcommittee A on Monday, September 9, 2024, Villanueva noted that out of over 800,000 contract workers in the entire government bureaucracy, 55,595 job-order and contract-of-service (JOCOS) workers are employed by the DPWH. This represents 73% of the agency’s total manpower complement of 75,846.
“We wanted to help in any way we can, but we wanted to find out what are these positions still unfilled?” Villanueva questioned, highlighting the large number of contractual positions. He pointed out that during his time at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the only unfilled position was a lawyer due to the low salary grade.
“I think we have to do something about it because this problem is already almost a decade,” Villanueva stated, emphasizing the need for a solution to the issue of high contract worker reliance.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan explained that many of the unfilled positions are contractual employment for specific projects and are coterminous with the contracts.
Villanueva, however, questioned this explanation, stating, “That concerns me. How can you say you are project-based when the DPWH is exactly mandated to actually implement infrastructure projects in the Philippines?”
The senator’s concerns highlight the potential issues associated with a high reliance on contractual workers in the DPWH, including potential instability and lack of career progression for these employees.
metrosundaily
