Funds for leave credits depleted

ONLY a few City Hall employees and officials cashed in on their leave credits from the P5 million set aside by the Cebu City government in Supplemental Budget 1 for this purpose.

Acting City Assessor Eustaquio Cesa received the biggest claim at P1.1 million followed by Councilor Richard Osmeña with P299, 617.

“Let’s prioritize those who need it most,” City Administrator Lucell Mercado said, adding that the P5 million was already depleted.

She said more applications will be approved with the passage of the next supplemental budget.

As a procedure, the unused leave credits of government employees are accumulated for monetization when they retire from service.

They also have the option to monetize part of their leave credits when they need cash.

Records from the Registry of Allotment and Obligations dated March 14 to April 14 showed that the bulk or P2.6 million of the P5 million allocation for the monetization of leave credits was granted to 16 persons while the balance was shared by other City Hall employees.

The P2.6 million allocation went to Cesa, Osmeña, Councilors Noel Wenceslao – who received P119, 846 and Sisinio Andales who received P149, 800. Four other claimants were from the mayor’s office while the rest are from different City Hall offices.

Mercado said the applications for the monetization of leave credits for the first quarter reached more than P8 million.

“There are so many applicants and the amount is very small that’s why we categorize,” she said.
Mercado said the approval of Cesa’s claims was Mayor Michael Rama’s call.

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