Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III announced a P15K anniversary bonus for provincial employees in a speech at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The 447th founding anniversary of the province of Cebu passed yesterday without much fanfare but for provincial employees it was a day highlighted by cheers and a considerable amount of fun.
During simple ceremonies at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Gov. Hilario Davide III in his speech announced a P15,000 anniversary bonus for all provincial employees as a way to reward them for their service.
“Ang essence sa pagpanerbisyo, serbisyo gayud. Nia kita dinhi tungod sa atong mando sa pagpangalagad. Magpasalamat gyud kita sa nagpili kanato, sa nagtudlo kanato, sa nagrekomendar kanato. Dili kita magpakaulaw sa katawhan (The real essence of public service, is really service. We are here because of our mandate to serve. We should be thankful to those who chose us, those who appointed us and those who recommended us. We should not bring shame to the people),” Davide said in his speech which was met by rounds of applause and cheers from Capitol employees who attended the program.
The bonus which would cost the province around P21 million will be taken from a P51 million Supplemental Budget (SB) already submitted to the Provincial Board (PB) for approval during its regular session on Monday.
According to Provincial Treasurer Danilo Rodas, a total of 1,424 regular and casual employees as of December 31, 2015 as well as elected officials will receive the bonus.
Last year, the province also granted the same amount as bonus to its employees.
Aside from the bonuses, new facilities for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), slope protection projects and asphalting programs for roads within the Capitol compound are included in the proposed SB.
August 6 was declared as a special non-working holiday for Cebu Province and the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu through Republic Act No. 8952.
But unlike previous years, this year’s founding anniversary celebration will not have a “Gabii sa Sugbo,” a formal dinner awards program cum entertainment night at the Capitol Social Hall traditionally hosted by the governor for selected guests.
According to Davide, the program was scrapped this year because it is similar to other activities already lined up in the month-long celebration.
Among the “most important activities” for the founding anniversary, Davide said, would be the actual founding day anniversary which was yesterday August 6, last week’s Agri-Trade Fair and a Farmers’ Day scheduled on August 12, Friday.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in her opening message recalled the challenges hurdled by the Davide administration at the start of the governor’s first term in office when the province was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake and Supertyphoon Yolanda, both in 2013.
Despite these setbacks, Magpale said that the province worked hard to continue providing service to its constituents and along the way attained recognition as one of the richest provinces in the country in terms of assets in addition to being one of the most competitive.
“We want really to, as much as we can and to the best of our ability, deliver all the expectations of the Cebuanos from us, especially on our priority programs including health, education and lately, water,” Davide said in an interview after the program.
The governor has called on Cebu mayors to make water projects their priority due to expected problems in the supply of water across the province.
This year’s founding anniversary has the theme: “Serbisyong Tinud-anay, Kalambuan nga Tiunay (Real service, genuine progress).”