Could this be a case of watching too many congressional investigations on TV or a lack of understanding of what they are supposed to be doing?
Members of the Provincial Board of Negros Oriental have taken on a keen interest in helping the Province get only the best employees. They convene like a Commission on Appointments, and evaluate the competence of a prospective public servant by grilling him or her in full session.
Some potential employees pass the screening, while some feel it is a waste of time, and eventually chicken out.
On one hand, these Provincial Board Members are probably helping the Province get only the most determined employees. Whether the Province is actually getting the most qualified, on the other hand, is another question.
This is going the extra mile in the name of public service. Assuming that these Provincial Board Members are doing well in the business of legislation — which is why they were elected into office in the first place — these lawmakers may even be commended for going above and beyond the call of duty.
However, there is one problem: in their zeal of be of help to the Province, they are actually encroaching on executive functions.
The Local government Code is the law which prescribes the functions of elected or appointed public officials. According to this law, the Provincial Board has the power to pass the budgetary appropriation for a certain position. The power to hire and fire, however, which goes with it the power to determine the qualifications of an applicant, belongs to the local chief executive.
We hope this is just a case of oversight, or a lack of appreciation of their roles as public servants.
But if this encroachment is intentionally done, especially to further one’s political agenda, we really could be in deep trouble.
See related story: Degamo rebuffs SP over hiring powers
