The city government is set to release PHP19.74 million additional bonus for 1,316 city hall employees despite the pandemic.

This was announced on Sunday by Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., adding the bonus amounting to PHP15,000 each is an incentive to those who worked hard in the delivery of services, particularly its program on relief operations at the height of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

“It’s going to be a very merry and early Christmas for the city government employees, for I want them to be happy as my way of thanking them in their efforts during the height of this pandemic,” Lazatin said in a statement.

The release of a PHP19.74-million bonus for the employees was gleaned on his memorandum No. 1198, series of 2020 issued on October 15.

Lazatin said the additional benefits for qualified city government employees, including the collective negotiation agreement (CNA) bonus worth PHP5,000, productivity enhancement incentive worth PHP5,000, and the service recognition incentive worth PHP5,000 will be released on Dec. 22.

Out of the total 1,316 city hall employees, 980 are permanent, 321 are casual, and 15 are contractual.

Last Oct. 5, with the directive of Lazatin, the local finance committee composed of the City Budget Office, City Accounting Office, and City Treasurer’s Office, immediately computed and prepared the year-end bonus of the city government employees.

Lazatin cited the importance of releasing the bonus and other incentives for the year as a means of ensuring that the employees have financial security amid the pandemic.

“This is also in recognition of all the efforts being done by our hardworking and dedicated city government employees despite the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. We want them to still be able to celebrate the coming holiday season,” he said.

City hall employees―permanent, casual, and contractual―will also receive their tax-free year-end bonus, equivalent to a one-month basic salary amounting to a total of PHP32.54 million.

Apart from this, the employees will each receive a PHP5,000 cash gift, amounting to a total of PHP6.58 million.

Both the year-end bonus and cash gift incentive will be released for qualified government employees on Nov. 6.

The grant of year-end bonus is in accordance with Republic Act 66861, as amended by Republic Act 8441, and under the Department of Budget Management Circular No. 2016-4.

On the other hand, contract of service (COS) employees who are qualified will receive PHP3,000 cash incentive each on Dec. 10, for a total amount of PHP8.41 million. (PNA)