Council can do special session for bonus

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has asked the Cebu City Council to hold a special session to pass the budget for the P10,000-Christmas bonus of Cebu City Government employees if it will not be included in today’s session due to time constraint.

The City Council is set to hold its last session today before the members take a break for the Yuletide Season.

It was only last Monday that the mayor officially announced he is granting a P10,000 bonus just like last year.

Rama said that for budgetary concerns such as bonuses that are deemed proper to be released immediately, the council can hold a special session to pass the budget.

The bonus for eligible employees will be passed under Supplemental Budget No. 3. Rama said Budget Officer Nelfa Briones, whom he tasked to prepare SB 3 identified the savings of the City where the bonus can be sourced.

The P10,000 bonus to be given to all government employees has a directive from President Benigno Aquino III. Local government units are asked to give bonuses to their employees if funds are available.

The city has about 5,000 regular and casual employees who will receive the bonus. Job order employees are not included because their work is project based only.

The City Council doubts that there are funds for the bonus because Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo earlier said that the City has a projected P800 million deficit this year.

But Rama does not believe that there is a deficit until the year, as well as the books of accounts, closes.

Early next year, City Hall employees expect another P2,000-productivity bonus and another cash bonus during the 75th Charter Day celebration. – (FREEMAN)