City Council allots P745T for allowance adjustments

The city council recently appropriated a lump sum of P745,875 for the differential of the Representation And Transportation Allowance, or RATA, of Cebu City officials covering this year's last three quarters.

This allotment was in compliance with the Department of Budget and Management's circular no. 79 implementing the revised rates of RATA the mayor, vice-mayor, councilors, department heads and their assistants, hospital chiefs and division chiefs of special cities, effective last April 1.

The adjustment of the RATA rate shall vary depending on the income classification of an LGU, according to the DBM circular.

Based on the revised rates, the maximum monthly RATA of city government officials shall be P6,000 for the mayor, P5,500 for vice-mayor, P4,500 for each councilor and department heads, P4,000 for assistant department head, and P3,000 for hospital chief.

With this DBM circular, Mayor Tomas Osmeña requested the council last September 30 to approve a resolution implementing the adjustment of the monthly RATA, from April 1 to December this year.

The council also approved the resolution authorizing city budget officer Nelfa Briones to implement the revised RATA for city officials. - Cristina C. Birondo