Capitol workers want allowance released

After learning through the State of the Province Address of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia recently that a P2.1-billion savings or surplus is in the province's coffers, the Provincial Employees Association of Cebu has requested the provincial government to grant the Collective Negotiation Agreement allowance immediately.

Now that some of its members are availing of the Early Retirement Plan, its president Diosdado Cayme feels there is a need to speed up the release of the CNA incentive so those who are availing of the plan would also receive the CNA benefit.

Cayme wrote a letter to Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez and the members of the Provincial Board asking for the inclusion of the CAN incentive in next week's session.

He pointed out that there is no new ruling from the Public Sector Labor Management Council on the time of release of the CNA incentive.

"Savings refers to such balance of the agency's released allotment for the year, free from any obligation or encumbrances and which are no longer intended for specific purposes," according to section 3 of the PSLMC resolution on CNA incentive.

Former Governor Pablo Garcia and then Peace president Arturo Canares signed the CNA incentive last December 11, 2002.

But the CNA allowance was not given so far because of the lack of funds, according to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.