The Mandaue City Council has passed ordinances granting a P20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) to qualified regular government employees and up to P5,000 in gratuity pay for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers for fiscal year 2025.
The measures were approved during a special session on Tuesday, December 16, implementing Administrative Orders (AO) Nos. 39 and 40 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which recognize the contributions of government employees amid ongoing socioeconomic challenges.
Under the ordinances, regular employees are entitled to the full P20,000 SRI. COS and JO personnel will receive gratuity pay of up to P5,000, depending on the length of service.
Workers with more than four months of service will receive the full amount, while those with less will receive a pro-rated share.
Councilor Joel Seno, chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, Budget, and Finance, said the city is expediting the release of the incentives, with distribution targeted before Christmas.
“We have already passed the SRI. This is the implementation of Administrative Order No. 40 signed by President Marcos last December 14, 2025,” Seno said in an interview.
He added that the SRI may be released ahead of the gratuity pay, with funds sourced from the city’s local general fund. Efforts are ongoing to ensure both incentives are distributed simultaneously, given the city’s financial standing.
“Hopefully before Christmas, magamit pa gyud ni sa atong mga empleyado,” Seno said.
Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano has instructed local government offices to fast-track the implementation of the administrative orders, while Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede issued strict directions to ensure immediate execution.
Seno explained that the city council received copies of the signed administrative orders only two days ago, prompting an emergency meeting with the Local Finance Committee on December 15.
The ordinances underwent first reading during the council’s last regular session of the year, followed by the special session on December 16 to complete the process.
The incentives from Malacañang are in addition to benefits previously released by the city government on November 15, which included a one-month salary bonus for regular employees and differential pay of P5,000 for JO workers and P2,400 for barangay health workers and Clean and Green personnel. ( VCL)
