Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Mayor to employees: Spend bonus, cash gift wisely By Bong Garcia
MAYOR Celso Lobregat has advised local government officials and personnel to spend their year-end bonus and cash gifts wisely amid the present economic crisis.
Lobregat issued the advice as he ordered the City Treasurer's Office to start releasing Tuesday the year-end incentives of more than 2,000 city regular, casual and contractual government employees.
He said the City Government appropriated P16.7 million this year for the officials and employees' year-end bonus and cash gift.
Lobregat's order is in compliance with Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Circular 2005-6 dated October 28, 2005 that mandates local government units to release the year-end bonus and cash gifts starting November 18 but no later than November 30.
Lobregat said that of the P16.7 million, P11.6 million covers the payment of the year-end bonuses while the remaining P5.1 million covers the cash gifts.
The year-end bonuses of each employee depend on the salary grade. The cash gift is P5,000 each.
The allocation for the payment of the year-end incentives is provided for in the local government's 2008 annual budget.
The City Treasurer's Office, however, started the release of incentives Monday.
The City Treasurer's Office has adopted a system for the release of the year-end incentives to hasten the process.
The amount released represents the remaining half of the employees' year-end incentives since the other half was released last May in time for the school enrollment.
