Anniversary Celebration: Capitol workers get P18T bonus

CEBU, Philippines - Capitol employees yesterday celebrated the 445th founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu and enjoyed the festivities more with the much awaited announcement of the anniversary bonus.

During the traditional anniversary message, Governor Hilario Davide III announced that all employees who have been employed since December 31, 2013 shall receive P15,000 each as collective negotiation agreement incentives with the Provincial Employees Association of Cebu, Inc.

Davide is happy to note that this incentive is in relation to “accomplishing the performance targets and attaining more efficient and valuable operations through cost-cutting measures and systems improvement.”

Last year, the Capitol employees also received the same amount as an incentive.

Davide’s initial announcement was followed by the resounding applause and cheer from the Capitol employees.

The good news did not end there. Amid the state of euphoria in the social hall, Davide also announced that those Capitol employees with at least one year of service as of August 6, 2014 will receive additional P 3,000 each as anniversary bonus.

Anniversary bonus is given every five years since the founding anniversary and is observed during milestone years. The last time the anniversary bonus was granted to the provincial employees was in 2009.

Alejandro De Leon, who has been of service to the Cebu provincial government for eight years, was happy to receive the bonus regardless of the amount.

“Ang importante na’y gihatag si Governor isip pahalipay sa mga empleyado,” he said.

Lee Dela Cerna, administrative aide 4 at the Public Information Office, said that the bonus is a big help to the Capitol personnel given the calamities that struck the province last year.

“Bisan pa man naay naabot nga mga katalagman sa niaging katuigan ug bisa’g dako og gasto ang probinsya, padayon gihapon ang pagsuporta sa mga empleyado,” he said.

Dela Cerna plans to deposit this year’s incentive to his savings account.

Overall, there are 1,553 Capitol employees who will receive P18,000 each this year. Prior the announcement, the different Capitol departments participated in the “Sayaw sa Dekada 80” dance competition with performances inspired in the 1980s.  Davide lauded all the participants, describing that they “equally performed very well.”

Representatives from the legislative department emerged as the defending champion this year, bagging the grand prize of P30, 000. Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and members of the Cebu Provincial Board also danced with the Spanish dance hit “Macarena” by Los del Rio.

On the same day, a mass was held before the celebration followed by lunch at the respective offices.

The month long celebration for the province officially kicked off last Tuesday with the opening of the Agro Trade Fair dubbed as “Tabo sa Kapitolyo” that was held inside the Capitol compound.

A total of 41 local government units in the province and 40 private exhibitors participated in the week-long event. These included those from the typhoon-hit areas in Northern Cebu like the towns of Pilar and Poro in Camotes Islands, Borbon, Bantayan, and Tuburan

Earlier, Davide emphasized that the celebration of the 445th founding anniversary of Cebu is a way of expressing gratitude to those who have contributed to the growth and development of the province.

“We remember our forebears who have sacrificed and made difficult choices for them to make a difference, for making Cebu what it is today. We hope to continue sa atong efforts nga molambo pa gyud ang Cebu ug ang mga Sugbuanon,” he said.

Davide also revealed that they are already working out on a new award-giving body with the criteria based on the employees’ performances. It was launched last night at a dinner banquet and is eyed to be held this December.

The activities lined up this month include the “Gabii sa Sugbo” event to be held tomorrow, a “Media Night” activity and “Halad sa Kabataan Awarding” on August 13 and 15, respectively. And the launching of Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan with the Department of the Interior and the Local Government on August 29.  —/FPL (FREEMAN)