Some 473 job order and contractual workers of Laoag’s city government will receive a gratuity pay of up to PHP3,000 for their services this year.

In an announcement on Tuesday, City Administrator Roxanne Lee Castro said the government employees thank President Rodrigo Duterte and city officials for approving the gratuity pay that would further inspire workers in serving the government.

Duterte has approved the release of funds to cover the gratuity pay of job order and contractual workers for 2020 through Administrative Order (AO) 38.

The city government has 1,177 employees, 418 of whom are under contract of service, 29 are contractual personnel, and 26 are casual employees.

Based on Duterte’s order, all job order and contractual workers who have rendered at least four months of service as of December 15 would receive a gratuity pay not exceeding PHP3,000 each.

Meanwhile, some 704 regular employees of the city government have received PHP10,000 each as productivity enhancement benefit while all barangay chairmen, treasurers, and secretaries in the city’s 80 barangays were given a PHP3,000 allowance each.

In the face of the pandemic, Mayor Michael Keon said many people are facing a difficult time earning a living, hence, the need to share more with the needy. (PNA)