Dumaguete LGU workers hit “inequitable” bonuses

CEBU, Philippines – Employees of the Dumaguete City government were earlier told that each of them will receive a minimum of P10,000 or a maximum of P12,000 in cash gifts this Christmas, regardless of the amount of their monthly salary.

All was well that way, until recently when the city government announced recently that the amount of their cash gifts will now depend on how much monthly salary they are receiving.

The employees reacted, saying this was “so unfair,” considering that highly-paid employees such as department heads will get more than what was announced by City Mayor Manuel Teves Sagarbarria before. As such, these heads will be receiving even double the P12,000 cash gifts announced earlier.

Sagarbarria however explained that his “arms are tied” on the matter. He said that, while he was for an across-the- board distribution of the additional cash gifts, the guidelines said otherwise.

The mayor said the memorandum circular provided that the city government could give the P5,000 minimum additional cash gift or an equivalent of one month salary.

This meant that both highly-paid and lowly-paid employees will receive their respective gifts equal to the amount of their one-month salary. But for those receiving less than P5,000, they will receive the minimum P5,000 cash gift as provided for in the circular.

The cash gifts will be released from December 15 to December 18, which is the Christmas party of the 1,000 regular and casual plantilla employees of the city government. (FREEMAN)