Archival vows to hasten bonus release

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival on Tuesday assured City Hall employees that their bonuses will be released soon after the City Council approved the P1.64-billion Supplemental Budget No. 3 (SB3).

- Caecent No-ot Magsumbol and Kristin de Dios/FPL

“We are really pushing to expedite the processing so the funds can be released in time for Christmas,” Archival said during a press conference on December 16.

The mayor said his office has also received requests from barangay enforcement officers (BEOs), barangay tanods, and lupon members, adding that the city is studying how these can be accommodated within legal and budgetary limits.

Archival clarified earlier references to a “Christmas bonus” for job order (JO) workers, stressing that bonuses cannot be legally granted to JOs. Instead, they will receive gratuity pay in accordance with Administrative Order (AO) No. 39 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which authorizes a onetime gratuity of up to P7,000 for contract of service (COS) and JO personnel who have rendered at least four months of service as of December 15.

Cebu City initially allotted P5,000 per JO worker but will add P2,000 to comply with the presidential directive.

“Originally, we budgeted P5,000, but we will add P2,000 and go with the P7,000,” Archival said.

For regular and casual employees, the President approved a Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) of up to P20,000 under AO No. 40. Archival, however, said the city may initially release only P15,000, depending on the availability of funds.