Release of Christmas bonuses for Cebu City Hall workers faces delay

Local

CEBU City Hall employees may have to wait a little longer for their Christmas bonuses.

This is because the release remains dependent on the approval of Supplemental Budget 3 (SB-3), Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed in a press conference this week.

Archival said the administration is doing “everything possible” to ensure that the bonuses—P15,000 for regular and casual employees and P5,000 for job order (JO) workers—will be released before the holidays.

But the mayor stressed that the funds cannot be disbursed until SB-3 is passed by the City Council.

“We are processing it now. And hopefully the council will approve it. Hopefully before mag Christmas break,” Archival said.

Archival also clarified that this year will mark the first time the City Government is giving JO workers a P5,000 Christmas bonus, after reports circulated questioning the validity of the announcement.

“Ako ning i-clarify nga kining atong ihatag nga 5k Christmas bonus sa atong JO — this will be the first time,” the mayor said. “Before, it was not the bonus but the gratuity pay ang ilang nadawat. It should be very clear kay daghan kaayong news nga makahimo ug division sa atong constituents.”

He added that while JO workers previously received gratuity pay, the P5,000 bonus is distinct and is being introduced for the first time under his administration.

“Of course nakadawat mo because it's gratuity, but this will be the first time nga the city government will give 5k for JOs. That should be very clear,” Archival said.

With an estimated 1,400 to 1,500 JO personnel on the payroll, the bonus will form a significant portion of the employee incentive budget.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairperson of the committee on budget and finance, also said the council is waiting for national guidelines before making a final move on the budget.

“We will just wait for the memorandum from the Civil Service and DBM, [and if] unsa klaseha nga bonus ni,” Tumulak said.

He explained that aside from the P5,000 Personnel Productivity Incentive (PPI), employees may still receive another bonus depending on the national government instructions.

“As of now, wala pay final na memorandum. But in the supplemental budget, which is next week, gibutang na daan. Wala pa gisubmit sa LDF diri nako,” he added.

Tumulak also clarified that while JO workers have not yet received their gratuity pay, it should not be confused with the Christmas bonus.

“Lahi ng bonus, lahi pod umaabot,” he said, assuring that the city intends to release all incentives before the year ends.

“Dili sad na mahimong next year na mahitabo. Before the year ends, naa na na. Pero kinahanglan pa ipass ang Supplemental Budget.”

More than 4,000 City Hall personnel, including over 2,000

casual employees and nearly 1,000 JOs, stand to benefit from the incentives once SB-3 is approved.

Archival earlier described the bonus as a modest but meaningful gesture of appreciation, noting that City Hall workers were also hit hard by Typhoon Tino.

The mayor has already cancelled the traditional citywide Christmas party, directing departments to keep any gatherings “simple and modest” in consideration of ongoing recovery efforts.(TGP)