JULY 16, 2023: A glimpse at the facade of the Cebu City Hall. CDN Digital photo | Brian J. Ochoa
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The long wait is finally over for Cebu City employees, as the anticipated Charter Day bonus and gratuity pay are now within their grasp.
This follows the approval by the Cebu City Council of the Supplemental Budget (SB) 1 on March 8 during an online special session, which includes allocations for the Palarong Pambansa, transitional housing, and employee incentives.
P25,000 Charter Day bonus
In the approved supplemental budget, a bonus of P25,000 has been granted for casual and regular employees, along with P5,000 in gratuity pay for job order (JO) personnel.
The employees are set to receive these bonuses before March 15, 2024.
READ: Charter Day bonus: City Hall workers may get P25,000 incentive
During the session, City Councilor Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao, the chairman of the committee on budget and finance, presented their committee report, which received approval from the council.
Wenceslao said that the total number of casual and regular employees amounts to approximately 4,784, while there are about 3,357 Job Order (JO) personnel, bringing the total employee count to 8,141.
The executive department requested a total of P963 million for the first supplemental budget, earmarking at least P120 million for cash incentives.
Councilor James Anthony Cuenco emphasized during the session that only employees with satisfactory performance ratings would receive their entitled bonuses.
READ: JOs to receive P6,000 gratuity pay if proposal gets Cebu City Council OK
Coverage
However, Wenceslao said that they had yet to determine the exact number of employees who had attained satisfactory ratings, which correlated with the number eligible for bonuses.
Moreover, Wenceslao underscored the provision supporting the granting of bonuses outlined in the local budget circular from the DBM, specifically citing budget circular number 65 dated March 1997, which outlined guidelines for anniversary bonuses in local government.
The coverage includes all local government personnel employed full-time or part-time, whether on temporary, permanent, or casual status, as well as contractual personnel with appointments specific to an LGU and continuing employment at the time of each milestone anniversary.
During the discussion, Councilor Philip Zafra proposed an amendment to the ordinance, particularly focusing on the proposed budget for hosting the Palarong Pambansa, specifically regarding provisions for shelters.
READ: Palarong Pambansa 2024: Cebu City allocates P205M for games
Amendment
Zafra said that all programs, works, estimates, and project contracts must first receive approval from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City before proceeding with processes and implementation.
This amendment was adopted by the council.
Upon approval, Cuenco proposed a corollary motion urging the executive department to expedite the processing and approval of pending Job Order appointments, which had been pending for several months, to ensure timely payment of salaries and incentives to JO employees.
This motion received unanimous approval from the council.
Councilor Jerry Guardo also proposed another corollary motion requesting Architect Joseph Michael Espina, officer-in-charge of the city’s Planning Development Office (CPDO), to present the design of the transitory housing before the city council in an executive session.
Additionally, Wenceslao moved to request the City Treasurer’s Office to release the bonuses on or before March 15, 2024.
Subsequently, some councilors, including Zafra, Cuenco, Jun-jun Esmeña, Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros, and Councilor Francis Esparis, expressed their decision to decline their entitled bonuses.