Talisay plans to give Christmas bonus for JO employees

CEBU, Philippines — The Talisay City government is planning to give Christmas bonus to job order employees despite several decisions in the past by the Commission on Audit disallowing it.

Budget Officer Edgar Mabunay said they are waiting for the memorandum circular from the Department of Budget and Management allowing local government units to include job order workers in the giving of Christmas bonus.

He said the city government will ask permission from the Office of the President to give Christmas bonus to JOs if the DBM does not issue a memorandum circular to this effect.

"Mag-seek mi og clearance, mura’g exemption or approval total maka afford man ang city kay naa may funds available," Mabunay said.

He, however, refused to give the amount the city intended to give as bonus until they are able to secure legal basis.

According to him, the memorandum circular will serve as legal basis for them to give bonus to JO personnel. The Talisay City government already released the Christmas bonus for regular and casual workers last November 15.  The amount was equivalent to one month salary.

However, job order workers were not included because under the rules they are not considered government workers who enjoy employer-employee relationship.

In fact, COA disallowed the P5,000 bonus granted by the previous administration of Socrates Fernandez to job order employees. The workers were made to refund the amount.

Mabunay explained that it happened because they failed to secure legal basis before giving it.

He said the bonus will be sourced out from the city’s savings out of this year’s annual budget. The city government has around 1,800 job order employees.— /FPL (FREEMAN)