DBM oks Celso’s request for P20T bonus for city workers
It will be a joyous and cheery Christmas for the over 2,000 city government employees, as the Department of Budget and Management has authorized the grant of the P20,000 additional cash bonus.
This, in view of Mayor Celso Lobregat’s request for authority to allow the city government to grant P20,000 extra cash bonus to city government employees citing stable financial standing.
The request for authority was submitted to Malacañang, for which, the DBM through Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. acted recently by issuing budget circular 2009-5 on the subject guidelines on the grant of the productivity enhancement incentive for fiscal year 2009.
Mayor Lobregat revealed the good news during a press conference in City Hall the other day, citing the DBM guidelines and presidential administrative order.
The guidelines state that local government personnel, particularly those with permanent or regular items including those under item wages are entitled to the extra bonus. The same also talk about the length of service in government.
“We have checked with the DBM and so we can finally give the P20,000,” the mayor announced. He said the privilege covers even the barangay councils which meet the cap and have the financial capability.
The release of the bonus is expected to start today, December 21, in time for the Christmas season.
Lobregat said approximately 2,055 employees will get the extra windfall which will amount to over P40 million.
The amount will be taken from the savings of the city government.
Last year, the employees received an extra cash bonus of P17,000 while the year before, they received P15,000—per authority from the national government.
Mayor Lobregat reiterated that the grant of the additional cash bonus and the implementation of numerous projects are made possible because of sound fiscal management.
The city government under the Lobregat administration has been able to fix the budget, striking a balance between the implementation of projects, the delivery of basic services, requirements for personnel services and savings. (Sheila Covarrubias)