The City Council yesterday approved on second reading an ordinance upgrading, reclassifying, and creating new plantilla positions in the city government of Davao.

The ordinance, which was proposed by councilor Peter Laviña, created 19 new plantilla positions for the City Accountant’s Office (CAO), Museo Dabawenyo under the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), and the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents under the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO).

The proposed ordinance will go through a third and final reading and then will be sent to City Hall for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s signature before taking effect.

Under the CAO, new plantilla positions were created for one information technology officer II, one information technology officer I, one computer programmer III, one computer programmer II, one computer maintenance technologist III, and two computer maintenance technologist II.

For Museo Dabawenyo, new plantilla position were created for museum curator I, museum researcher II, artist illustrator III, and museum researcher I. Under the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents, plantilla positions were created for one social welfare officer III, one social welfare officer II, two manpower development officer II, one social welfare assistant, and one administrative aide IV.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had written the City Council on November 10, 2008 proposing the upgrading, reclassification, and creation of new plantilla positions in four departments involving 19 positions.

Because of the long holidays in December, however, the letter was not immediately acted upon by the Council.

The City Treasurer’s Office has certified the availability of funds for this proposal in the amount of P3,615,754.88 for Calendar Year 2009.

The City Budget Office also certified that with the new positions, the total personal services under the Annual Budget for 2009 would increase from 26.92 percent to 27.05 percent, well within the 45 percent limit set by the Local Government Code.