CASUAL and job order (JO) workers of the Cebu City Government will receive a one-time P7,000 gratuity pay after the City Council approved Supplemental Budget No. 3 (SB-3), Mayor Nestor Archival said on Tuesday, December 16.
In a press conference, Archival clarified that the assistance should not be called a Christmas bonus, as national rules prohibit bonuses for JO workers.
Instead, the amount will be released as gratuity pay, in line with guidelines issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Actually, sa bonus man gud we are not allowed to give JOs bonus. Naa ra tay gratuity, naay giingon si President Marcos na 7k, naa tay 5k and butangan nato ug 2k. We cannot call it bonus actually kay ma-technical ta sa term,” Archival said.
The mayor explained that the city initially had a P5,000 allocation, which was increased by P2,000 to match the P7,000 gratuity authorized by the President.
“Ang ato lang naay certain amount si President na 7k, naa tay budget na 5k then modungang ta ug 2k, so naa silay take-home pay plus ilang sweldo na 12k,” he added.
Archival apologized for earlier announcements that referred to the assistance as a bonus, attributing the confusion to incorrect terminology.
“Ang terminology lang gyud. I’m sorry for that… whatever gi-mandate, gratuity or SRI, mao na atong ihatag. Instead of 5k na previous announce, it was not also bonus, but gratuity pay,” he said.
The release of the gratuity pay became possible after the City Council approved SB-3, amounting to more than P1.64 billion, during a special session on December 12 presided over by Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito. The budget was certified as urgent by the mayor.
“I’m very happy [that the council approved the Supplemental Budget 3]. Now that the supplemental budget is approved, ato gyud ni gitinguha nga ma-expedite na ang release aron magamit nila sa pasko,” Archival said.
SB-3 includes P144.5 million under the General Fund Proper and more than P1.49 billion in subsidies for special accounts.
Aside from personnel-related benefits, the budget also funds hospital upgrades, housing-related land acquisition, and rehabilitation projects for barangays affected by Typhoon Tino.
The gratuity pay follows Administrative Order No. 39 issued by President Marcos, which authorizes a one-time gratuity of up to P7,000 for contract-of-service and JO workers with at least four months of satisfactory service. Workers with shorter service periods are entitled to pro-rated amounts.
Cebu City employs more than 4,000 workers, including over 2,000 casual employees and about 1,000 JO personnel. Many have been awaiting year-end benefits, which were delayed pending the approval of SB-3.
City officials said the gratuity pay is expected to be released before the end of the year. (LLP)
