ANOTHER week of waiting looms for Cebu City Hall employees as Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s request to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a Charter Day bonus exemption remains unanswered.
Garcia, during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, April 21, 2025, told City Hall employees that he hopes to receive a reply from Comelec this week.
The release of the P35,000 Charter Day bonus is currently restricted following the start of the campaign period, which started on March 28, 2025 and will end on May 10, 2025.
The Comelec bans the disbursement of certain benefits. This prompted the City Government to seek an exemption for the release of the bonus.
Garcia said the recent long weekend may have contributed to the delay in Comelec’s response.
“Because it was a long weekend, that’s probably why it wasn’t given action immediately. But hoping this week, it will be acted upon immediately so we can release it already,” said Garcia.
He assured the City Hall employees that the City Government would follow up on the request.
“Just give us a few more days, we will follow up again this week and before you know it, we will really be able to release your bonus,” Garcia added.
In a press conference hours after the flag-raising ceremony, Garcia said he is hopeful to receive a response from Comelec by Friday, April 25.
Garcia said the bonuses would be released once Comelec provides a favorable response.
The City submitted its request for the bonus exemption early in April.
Garcia flew to Manila in the second week of the month to follow up on the request. / JPS