No Christmas bonus for job order workers

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia confirmed Monday that they cannot grant Christmas bonus and cash gifts to job order employees of the City Government as it is not allowed by law.

He said that by practice and by legality, job order employees cannot enjoy the benefits that permanent employees enjoy because of the limitations in the law.

Leonardia also cannot categorically disclose the exact amount the city will grant to permanent employees.

"We are still finalizing as to how much Christmas bonus and cash gift we will grant. I will still sit down with the City Finance Committee composed of the City Budget, City Treasurer, among others, to discuss this matter," he said.

Earlier, two members of the City Council of Bacolod City -- Councilors El Cid Familiaran and Elmer Sy -- echoed the sentiments of the job order employees of the City Government, calling Leonardia to follow the generosity of the Provincial Government of Occidental Negros.

The Provincial Government reportedly will grant P25,000 for each employee as their cash gift and another P15,000 as their incentive bonus.

However, on the part of Bacolod, the city even recently downgraded its plantilla or semi-permanent employees to job order employees because of the lack of funds. (Carla N. Canet)