A LOCAL legislator is confident that state auditors will not flag the Cebu City Government if it pushes through with the distribution of P35,000 in Charter Day bonus to regular and casual employees.
This was the sentiment of City Councilor Noel Wenceslao following the Commission on Audit’s (COA) issuance of a notice on Feb. 17, 2025 that suspended the payment of P71.7 million in Charter Day Service Incentives to about 5,000 City Hall employees in 2023. Each employee received P15,000 during the administration of former mayor Michael Rama.
The issue about COA’s notice of suspension surfaced during City Council’s deliberations on the proposed first supplemental budget (SB 1), amounting to P635 million. City Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos called the council’s attention to the matter.
Cebu City celebrated its 88th Charter Day on Monday, Feb. 24.
Wenceslao, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, told SunStar in a phone interview on Thursday, Feb. 27, that the issue was about the details on the justification behind the distribution of the incentives.
In their notice, state auditors stated that they suspended the payment because the City failed to submit a report outlining the specific contributions of each recipient. They maintained that the incentive could not be granted without proof of extraordinary suggestions, inventions, superior accomplishments, or other significant personal contributions by the recipients.
Different mechanics
Wenceslao said the mechanics for releasing this year’s Charter Day Service Incentives are different from the process used in releasing the incentives in 2023.
“Every time we give an award or incentive to the employees, there should be a basis. One of which is that the City Government must receive an award or recognition,” he said.
Wenceslao said he learned from the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (Praise) Committee that some of the bases for the service incentive include the recognition from the Department of Health (DOH) on the City Government’s commitment to barangay health workers, the DOH also recognizing the city as No. 3 in compliance with the national immunization program, another acknowledgment from the National Nutrition Council of the Seal of Compliance.
All regular and casual employees receive 100 percent of the bonuses if employed for at least six months with the Cebu City Government, while the bonuses will be prorated for those employed for less than the required number of months.
The executive department initially proposed a P25,000 Charter Day bonus to each regular and casual employee. This proposal is included in the proposed SB 1.
The total budget allocated for bonuses is P150 million, a P30 million increase compared to the P120 million allocated in 2024.
On Feb. 12, the City Council approved the motion increasing the Charter Day bonus to P35,000, after the recommendation of the Praise Committee to release “at least P25,000” for this year’s Charter Day bonus.
During the budget hearing on Feb. 25, the council suggested the realignment of funding of other items included in SB 1 to fund the increase in the bonuses.
The council is expected to approve and release the Charter Day bonus by March. However, the body has yet to endorse the committee report on SB 1 for the third and final reading.
Questions
De los Santos and her fellow councilor, Jocelyn “Joy” Pesquera, questioned aspects of the SB 1.
Pesquera questioned the appropriation of disaster risk reduction funds for the SB 1, particularly concerning a lack of proper approval. She also pointed out that payout forms used for livelihood fund disbursements bore the logo of a political party, raising concerns about electioneering.
De los Santos also raised concerns that the disbursement of livelihood assistance in barangays may have been used for electioneering. / EHP