By Chito Chavez A total of 112 Quezon City Hall employees were regularized while 62 others were promoted in the first seven months of Mayor Joy Belmonte's term, fulfilling her vow to provide security of tenure to competent and deserving personnel in the local government. Quezon City (MANILA BULLETIN) “This is one way to empower our government employees. By empowering them, we hope that they will serve our people better,” said Belmonte. Belmonte added the move is in line with her promise during her first flag raising ceremony as mayor to provide job security and to promote professionalism in QC. She said the local government had the first batch of employees regularized as early as November, after the QC Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board (HRMPSB) has been reconstituted. Established under the revised Executive Order No. 25-B, the HRMPSB is a recommending body tasked to evaluate the qualifications of employees for promotion and appointment for vacant permanent positions. Ronald Tan, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the QC Human Resource Management Department (HRMD) said it was discovered that some employees of the city have been working as contractual for more than five years while others have already been performing tasks well outside their duties without being promoted. “We will fill up our plantilla positions and, as much as possible, limit job contracting only to specialized services. We are ready to give the security of tenure to those who will qualify during the screening,” said Tan. Belmonte emphasized that the process of appointment and promotion made by her administration abides by merit and fitness as determined by the Board. “Anyone is encouraged to apply, even walk-in applicants. We’ve made the selection process more transparent so applicants won’t need padrinos or recommending individuals to get government positions,” said Belmonte. First- and second-level employee representatives were included as members of the HRMPSB while Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto are the appointing authority and the chairperson for the city’s Executive and Legislative Departments, respectively. Other members of the board include head of departments, Majority Floor Leader of the QC Council or his authorized representative, Minority Floor Leader of the QC Council or his authorized representative, Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Civil Service, Appointments, and Reorganization and the Head of the Human Resource Management Department.