City Hall employees might get Charter Day bonus today

CEBU, Philippines — The chances are high that the long-overdue Charter Day bonuses for Cebu City Hall employees will be released today, Tuesday, the same day the election ban also comes to an end.

While it was previously announced that officials were hopeful to get a nod from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to distribute the bonuses before the elections, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said he will make an announcement today.

He added that this will now be possible since the Comelec ban on the disbursement of public funds and resources due to the election season also ends today.

It was reported that Supplemental Budget 1, which includes the bonuses, was submitted in the first week of February and underwent a series of budget hearings and scrutiny before the council. However, the council had to return the proposal to the executive and asked for a revision when the bonus amount was increased from ?25,000 to ?35,000.

Previously, Garcia, who said he no longer wants to place blame, admitted that the lengthy deliberations by the council might have contributed to the delays in distribution.

Despite personally going to the national office of the Comelec during the first week of April, the distribution of the disputed Charter Day bonuses for Cebu City Hall employees remains in limbo, even though it was first announced approximately two months ago.

On April 14, 2025, Garcia had already set employee expectations, noting that their bonuses were affected by the Comelec ban on the disbursement of public funds.

According to Garcia, he submitted all the required documents, particularly the letter of inquiry, to seek approval. — (FREEMAN)