Osmeña eyes bonus for Sinulog workers

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is considering cash incentives for City Hall workers who have helped make the recent Sinulog a huge success.

Osmeña made the announcement when asked of the possibility of giving bonus to all city government workers who made the festival orderly and peaceful.

“Yes, we will cut a bonus system for City Hall workers especially to our silent heroes, our garbage collectors…everybody even my staff here. They are people who are monitoring, walay tulog gyud,” Osmeña said.

The mayor, however, said the executive department will assess who are the deserving workers.

“We will have to make an assessment, right now we cannot just discuss arbitrarily what’s in my mind,” Osmeña said. The mayor could not also give the amount as to how much bonus he is willing to give.

Osmeña said he needs to check how much money is available before he can make the decision. All city officials and ordinary workers take credit of the orderly and peaceful staging of the Sinulog 2018.

Department of Public Services assistant head John Paul Gelasque said they are happy that the mayor wants to give them cash incentives.

“Amoa man gyud nang responsibilidad nalipay lang mi malimpyo nga wala pa mihayag pero kung naay ihatag nga incentive mas malipay mi pero wala mi mag expect ana,”he said.

At least 586 street cleaners were deployed last Sunday to clean the streets after the grand parade. Cebu City Transportation Office operations head Francisco “Isko” Ouano also said he is grateful that the mayor has recognized their efforts.

He said whether or not a cash incentive will be given, manning the traffic was their main responsibility.

“Actually, ikalipay nato at least ang atong effort and kahago nakita ni mayor. Ikalipay nato nga nidako ang pagsalig sa amo, ang enforcers nalipay nga naay nihikutar sa ilaha, pila ka adlaw nagkumbati ta sa traffic, nalipay ta nga nakita ni mayor,” Ouano said.

At least 278 traffic enforcers and more than a hundred parking aid personnel were deployed to man the traffic on the streets during the Sinulog.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Council has commended Osmeña for a very successful Sinulog celebration this year. The resolution was sponsored by Osmeña’s ally, Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos. —FPL (FREEMAN)