P30T bonus is “too much”: Giving of incentives should have guidelines, says Dizon

CEBU, Philippines - There should be guidelines in giving yearend cash incentives if it is anchored on the employees’ performance, said a Cebu City councilor.

The Cebu City government on Friday gave P30,000 yearend cash incentive to each of its 4,800 regular and casual employees, which Councilor Alvin Dizon described to be “too much.”

“The giving of P30,000 flat rate yearend cash incentive to all Cebu City Hall employees regardless of performance not only runs afoul to the essence and purpose of an incentive scheme but is highly insensitive, unjust and unfair to the Cebuanos many of whom are needy themselves,” he said.

The council recently approved the P201-million Supplemental Budget-2, of which P127 million was allocated for the said incentive.

During a special session last December 7, Dizon and Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos abstained from voting for the passage of the additional budget, saying that the amount is “too much” for a bonus.  Both councilors opted to receive only P10,000 of their share and the remaining P20,000 will be given back to the city’s coffer.

Dizon drafted a resolution asking the city’s Human Resource Development Office to formulate guidelines for the next yearend cash incentives.

He also requested HRDO to use standardized performance evaluation tool in assessing employees before the incentive is given.

“It is both urgent and imperative that clear policy guidelines and procedures on the giving of yearend cash incentive must be adopted to ensure that those who will be entitled to receive the same have rendered exemplary performance in their public service,” he said.

HRDO should present the draft of the guidelines in an executive session on the first week of January 2016, said Dizon.

“The giving of cash incentive every Christmas is not required by law but a matter of management prerogative. The idea behind an incentive scheme is to reward good work or performance of an employee,” he said further.

Dizon said he will push for the approval of his proposed resolution on December 16, which is seen to be the council’s last regular session of the year.

Councilors Margarita Osmeña and Lea Japson voted for the passage of the SB-2 but they also manifested to only receive P10,000 of the incentive. (FREEMAN)