Rama to Bongbong Marcos: Implement uniform incentive schemefor JOs

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to implement a uniform amount of incentives among job orders in the country.

Being the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, Rama said he will be writing to the president on this matter, especially with regard to the giving of Christmas bonuses.

So far, the City Hall is still awaiting word from the national government on the amount of incentives that should be given to JOs.

Rama, however, assured the job order employees that they will receive Christmas bonuses, although the exact amount is yet to be determined.

“As the president of the LCP, I am writing to the President to bring about a memorandum circular or an executive order so that we can legitimize this,” Rama said during the Bonifacio Day celebration.

Earlier this week, city administrator Suzanne Ardosa disclosed that Christmas bonuses for regular employees have already been prepared. They are just finalizing the guidelines for the release.

Meanwhile, Senator Mark Villar has also filed a bill seeking to grant 13th month pay to contractual and job order personnel in the government service.

Villar noted that job order and contractual workers are not receiving mid-year and year-end bonuses that regular or permanent employees of the government get.

He said with the persistent inflation, it is just fair that all Filipino workers, including contractual and job orders in government service, also get the incentives enjoyed by the regular employees, especially given the lack of security of tenure on their work.

Villar said his bill supports the DBM and COA joint circular extending the services of JOs and COs until December 2024. – JMD (FREEMAN)