Gratuity pay or Christmas bonus? Archival clarifies cash aid for JO workers

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival clarified that the year-end assistance to job order (JO) workers will be released as a gratuity pay, not a Christmas bonus, in compliance with national guidelines, following the approval of Supplemental Budget No. 3 by the City Council.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 16, Archival said local government units are not authorized to grant bonuses to JO workers, but may provide gratuity pay as allowed under policies issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Actually, sa bonus man gud we are not allowed to give JOs bonus. Naa ra ta’y gratuity,” Archival said. “We cannot call it bonus actually kay ma-technical ta sa term.”

The mayor explained that the city aligned its year-end assistance with the national directive granting up to ₱7,000 gratuity pay to JO and contract of service workers.

According to Archival, Cebu City had an existing ₱5,000 allocation and added ₱2,000 to reach the maximum amount allowed.

“Naa’y giingon si President Marcos nga 7k, naa tay budget nga 5k, then butangan nato ug 2k,” he said, adding that the assistance will be given on top of the workers’ regular pay.

Archival also apologized for earlier announcements referring to the assistance as a “bonus,” stressing that the amount previously mentioned was also intended as gratuity pay.

“Ang terminology lang gyud. I’m sorry for that. Whatever gi-mandate, gratuity or SRI, mao na atong ihatag. Instead of 5k nga previous announcement, it was not also bonus, but gratuity pay,” he said.

The clarification came after the City Council approved Supplemental Budget No. 3, which Archival said would allow the city to expedite the release of benefits before Christmas.

“I’m very happy that the council approved the supplemental budget. Now that the supplemental budget is approved, ato gyud ni gitinguha nga ma-expedite na ang release aron magamit nila sa Pasko,” he said.

The supplemental budget, amounting to more than ₱1.64 billion, covers funding for yearend benefits of City Hall employees and other key city programs.

Under Administrative Order No. 39 signed by President Marcos, JO and contract of service workers with at least four months of satisfactory service may receive up to ₱7,000 in gratuity pay, with pro-rated amounts for those with shorter service periods. Local government units are encouraged to adopt similar measures, subject to budget availability.

Cebu City employs more than 4,000 workers, including over 2,000 casual employees and about 1,000 JO personnel, many of whom are awaiting the release of their yearend benefits.(TGP)