Manila councilors want big bonuses

A howl was raised by a handful of councilors at the Manila City council over a proposed ordinance awarding themselves as much as P4 million in retirement bonuses, saying the law is self-serving and immoral.

The objection, however, as expected, went in vain as only five of the 36 councilors opposed the proposed ordinance, paving the way for its expeditious approval on second reading during last Thursday’s session.

"The ordinance is self-serving. We will be the ones who will approve the ordinance and we will be the ones benefited," said Council minority floor leader Roger Gernale.

Gernale, along with Councilors Edward Maceda, Ma. Paz Herrera, Theresa Bonoan-David, and Gonzalo Gonzales, were the only ones who opposed the ordinance.

The ordinance was sponsored by Council majority floor leader Marlon Lacson. Lacson could not be reached for the last two days for an interview.

The ordinance titled "An ordinance conferring exemplary public service awards to elective city officials of Manila who have served for three consecutive terms in the same position," also reportedly applies to the city mayor and vice mayor.

In the proposed ordinance, however, the giving of additional cash incentives to Manila public officials could not be easily detected from the way it is worded.

Section 2 of the proposed ordinance states "the award shall consist of a plaque of appreciation and gratuity equivalent to the total renumeration of the position for three consecutive terms."

Gernale said it is the phrase "gratuity equivalent to the total renumeration" which they are particularly opposing.

‘Why don’t they (majority councilors) include the figure that councilors stand to receive in the ordinance?" asked Gernale. "That way the people will be properly appraised as to how much councilors are due to receive if the ordinance is approved."

Gernale said the P4 million is in addition to the retirement benefits that councilors are due to receive at the end of their terms. The award and cash is supposed to be handed to the councilor on the last Council session day.

"But this does not mean that the councilor cannot run for another elective position," the opposition councilor told The STAR.

The ordinance is expected to be published before it is formally approved.

Ironically, three oppositors of the ordinance – Gernale, Herrera, and Gonzales – are on their third and last terms as councilors and are among those who stand to benefit from the ordinance.