Capitol, Mandaue employees to receive bonus

CEBU, Philippines - At least 1,500 Capitol employees and officials can expect two cash incentives from the provincial government before Christmas Day.

Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas said the incentives will be given out not earlier than Dec. 15, with each employee receiving P5,000 for the Productivity Enhancement Incentives.

He said though they are still evaluating how much will be given to the employees and officials for the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) bonus.

“As to the amount kun pila mao na ang gi-evaluate pa nato karon kay gibasehan ra man sad na sa unsa’y savings nga atong makuha sa atong operations,” he said.

The giving of bonuses will be subject to the guidelines of the Department of Budget and Management, which sets a 45-percent limit on personal services.

Rodas said the guidelines are set to be out within this week.

Rodas said elected officials, regular employees, and casual workers are entitled to the bonus.

He said the incentives will be released by the Provincial Treasurer’s Office through the respective automated teller machine accounts of the employees.

He said this would be the second time the province will give out CNA bonus. The first one was in August when Capitol employees received P15,000 each.

Last year, the province also granted the same amount as bonus to its employees.

However, he added that employees would no longer be receiving another CNA bonus August next year in time for the province’s 448th founding anniversary celebration.

 “Apan laing CNA ang madawat nila sa Disyembre sunod tuig,” Rodas added.

CNA incentive is traditionally one of the fringe benefits provided for government employees.

Mandaue City

In Mandaue City, qualified City Hall employees will also be receiving their productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) amounting to P5,000 to be released not earlier than December 15.

During last Wednesday’s regular session, Councilor Nenita Ceniza-Layese, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriation, said the city council approved on first reading Ordinance No. 70-2016 that grants PEI to all city officials and regular employees.

“The City Government of Mandaue has funds available for the purpose, as deliberated upon during the special meeting of the Local Finance Committee,” Layese said.

The circular mainly authorized the release of a PEI of not more than P5,000 for employees working in the executive branch of the national government, government-owned and controlled corporations, judiciary and the legislative branches.

But it gave local government units (LGU), including barangay governments, the prerogative to determine the rates or amounts to be given to their respective employees, “depending on the LGU financial capability.”

The council has also approved Ordinance No. 71-2016 that grants an increase of the daily wage of the job order personnel. The city has hired more than 1,000 JO employees.

Under the proposed ordinance, JO personnel’s salary will have an increase of P36 for the period July 1 to November 30. 

“The compensation they received is not commensurate with the daily tasks and works they rendered, where most of them, in assisting the organic personnel of the different departments of the City, are doing the duties of regular employees,” Layese said.

Presently, JO employees receive P375 per day within 26-day month. This means, they are receiving a monthly honorarium of P9,950 a-month.

However, the city is not yet sure if the JO employees will receive their PEI since the Commission on Audit has warned local government units not to grant cash gifts, yearend bonuses and PEI since the disbursement of public funds for the said purposes are illegal.

Also excluded from receiving these incentives are individuals or groups whose services are engaged through job orders, contracts of services or other similarly situated.

COA said the job order covers piece works or intermittent jobs of short durations not exceeding six months, on a daily basis.

It said that contracts of services and job orders are not covered by the Civil Service Law and rules and regulations, but are covered by COA rules.

The employees involved in the contracts or job orders do not enjoy the benefits of regular government employees. (FREEMAN)