Mayor Marc Brian Lim has donated four months’ worth of his salary and year-end bonus, to be divided as a cash gift to the city government’s job order (JO) employees.

“Pasensya na kayo, medyo maliit lang ‘yon. Pero at least mayroon kayong matatanggap (I apologize as the amount is meager but at least you will receive something). I hope that you continue to believe in our leadership but most important of all, I hope you continue to believe in the city of Dagupan that whatever challenges we are facing, it is worth fighting for,” he said during the lighting of the giant Christmas tree and decors in the city’s central business district on Monday.

Each job order employee will receive at least PHP1,000.

Lim said he decided to donate his salary as, under the law, JO employees are not entitled to a bonus or cash gift.

He earlier donated eight months’ worth of his salary to buy test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that paved the way for intensified testing here at the onset of the pandemic.

The city government, Lim said, has released the 13th-month pay of the regular employees.

Some employees were also given a commendation for their exemplary work during the different crises faced by Dagupan this year.

“I think we have been blessed by the Lord Almighty. And as much as we empathize and we would like to help all those Filipinos who have suffered through the different typhoons and different natural disasters, for this year, I think we have still been quite lucky. That is something to be thankful for,” he said in an interview.

The lighting of the giant Christmas tree signified the start of the Yuletide season and to uplift the spirit of Dagupeños amid the pandemic.

“We will finally light up the Christmas lights of the city (The Lights of Hope) because we should never ever lose hope. Keep the faith. But now I think it’s time not to just keep the faith but to spread the faith,” Lim said during the event.

Meanwhile, the city government has donated PHP100,000 each to the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Albay, as well as the city of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro province, which were severely affected by Typhoon Rolly. (PNA)