By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth Ports Authority Board of Directors on Thursday did not approve a proposed resolution to grant typhoon emergency pay to classified exempt employees who were required to work during Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck and devastated the islands mid-last month.
In a memorandum, CPA Executive Director Esther Ada recommended the measure “in recognition of extraordinary services rendered by exempt personnel who worked beyond their normal hours under hazardous and emergency conditions to ensure continuity of operations, restore essential services, and protect CPA facilities and assets.”
A draft resolution was presented to the board during its special meeting in the CPA conference room at Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
Present at the meeting were board chairman Bart Jackson, vice chairman Antonio Cabrera, and board members Carline Sablan, Dolores Kiyoshi, Vincent N. Camacho, and Juan S. Salas. Board member Eusebio Manglona was excused.
The resolution would have granted 2.5 times the base salary for classified employees who worked outside their regular scheduled hours during the declared emergency period.
The justification for the proposed emergency pay cites employees’ extraordinary service, noting they were required to remain on duty before, during, and after the typhoon. Their responsibilities included coordinating emergency response and port operations, managing personnel deployment and accountability, overseeing damage assessments and recovery, coordinating with local and federal agencies, and ensuring the timely restoration of airport and seaport operations.
The recommendation also raised concerns about equity and fairness, stating that non-exempt employees who perform emergency services are eligible for typhoon emergency pay under existing regulations. In contrast, exempt employees who worked comparable or greater hours under the same conditions are excluded solely because of their classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Providing equivalent compensation promotes fairness, morale, and organizational unity, the recommendation states.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
