Capitol officials, workers to get “award incentive”

CEBU, Philippines — Officials and employees of the Cebu provincial government are set to receive an “award incentive” by the end of the week.

This after the Cebu Provincial Board approved the appropriation ordinance authorizing Supplemental Budget No. 1, which allocates P78.2 million from the General Fund for the 2024 budget year of the Cebu Province. The ordinance was passed on its third and final reading yesterday, August 19.

From this amount, regular employees, including elected officials of the province, will receive P30,000 each, while Job Order (JO) personnel will receive a compensation premium of P20,000 each. According to Section 2 of the proposed ordinance, the total compensation received from January 2024 to July 2024, including the premium, will not exceed 120% of the comparable regular position rate for the same period.

Additionally, pursuant to the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit (COA-DBM) Joint Circular No. 2 series of 2020, as amended by Joint Circular No. 2 series of 2022, and subject to existing audit rules and regulations, the employee or JO personnel must still be in the service of the Cebu provincial government as of August 6, 2024, and must have rendered at least one month of service.

“To recognize ang atong mga empleyado who have diligently work to further the performance of the Province of Cebu. We are regarded as the number one province and we continue to stay the same,” Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco, who authored the appropriation ordinance, told reporters.

The approval of the ordinance has been found to follow the guidelines and rules set by the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, as well as comply with the necessary provisions of the Local Government Code.

Furthermore, the passage of the ordinance has been endorsed by the committee as it adheres to the rules and regulations issued by the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit (COA-DBM).

“The Cebu provincial government acknowledges the dedication and excellence service performed by its employees in delivering services, functions and duties to the Cebuanos,” said Board Member Carmela Franco, member of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations that endorsed the ordinance.

Additionally, the ordinance has been recommended for adoption by the Provincial Finance Committee.

Provincial budget officer Danilo Rodas clarified that the grant of cash incentives is not an anniversary gift but an “award incentive” for the provincial government employees.

The Provincial Capitol has been celebrating its month-long anniversary since August 5.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be authorized to adjust or realign the schedule of savings of different offices as deemed necessary for any understatement or overstatement found during its implementation. —/LPM (FREEMAN)