Sunday, December 24, 2006 Capitol workers to get at least P10T gift each
FOR their efficiency and professionalism, employees at the Cebu Provincial Government will receive extra cash gifts as their reward, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia announced yesterday.
Some 2,000 employees will receive a bonus equivalent to one month’s salary and in no case lower than P10,000. Employees who get a monthly salary of less than P10,000 will still receive P10,000.
Garcia, for her part, will donate her bonus to the Provincial Employees’ Association of Cebu (Peace).
In her speech during the Christmas party for Capitol employees yesterday, the governor cited the local budget memorandum issued by the Department of Budget and Management on Dec. 18.
That memo states the local government units may give extra cash gifts to their personnel and that this has been authorized by the President. The extra cash gift will be charged against savings of the local government units.
Garcia will be calling for a special session soon so that a supplemental budget can be passed for the additional benefit.
Aside from acting on the bonus, the Provincial Board also needs to hold two special sessions before the month ends because they have so far failed to meet the required four session days every month.
Garcia yesterday recognized the departments of the Capitol one by one for doing a good job despite challenges they had to face.
She said she considered 2006 as the Capitol’s toughest year because apart from the several projects being implemented simultaneously, the Province had to build and spend for an international convention center in just eight months.
The Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) was built after President Arroyo told Garcia that Cebu will host the 12th Asean Summit. Originally scheduled for this month but postponed because of typhoon Seniang, the summits will push through from Jan. 10 to 15, 2007.
Also during her speech, the governor could not help but point out that only few employees attended the mass in the morning but the social hall was overflowing during the program in the afternoon because the employees were waiting for any announcement about the bonus.
“Ang diwa sa pasko dili ang regalo ug bonus kon dili ang paghatag ug pasidungog sa Dios (Christmas isn’t about gifts and bonuses, but giving praise to God),” she told the employees. (MBG)
