City Hall employees to get P10,000 bonus

CEBU, Philippines - Each eligible employee of the Cebu City government will receive P10,000 bonus before Christmas Day, Mayor Michael Rama announced yesterday.

Rama said he already tasked Emma Villarete, in charge of the Treasury Department, to look for possible funds as source of the Christmas bonus.

“Most probably masulod sya sa SB 3 (Supplemental Budget No. 3),” Rama said, explaining that there is still time to pass the SB 3.

“All eligible employees will receive the bonus. But I am not sure about the job order employees. I still have to check on that. Lahi man gud ang nature sa ilang trabaho,” Rama said.

When asked if there will be available sources of funds when Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo announced earlier the possibility of deficit, Rama said the year has not yet ended so there is no certainty whether it will acquire a deficit. Rama refused to recognize Camarillo as city treasurer.

Last year, Rama also granted P10,000 to each of City Hall’s 5,000 employees as mandated by the national government. The bonus is on top of their regular 13th month pay.

City Hall employees are also expected to receive another bonus in time for the celebration of the city’s Charter Day next year.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board approved a resolution requesting the Department of Labor and Employment to intensify the monitoring of employers on the giving of 13th month pay to their employees.

The resolution, authored by Board Member Arleigh Sitoy, cited Presidential Decree No. 851 and amended by Memorandum Order No. 28 mandating all “employers are required to pay all their rank and file employees a 13th month pay not later that December 24 of every year.”

The law required employers to give to employees one half of the required 13th month pay before the opening of the regular school year and the other half on before Dec. 24 of every year.  (FREEMAN)