ON FRIDAY morning, December 20, 2024, the 20th City Council approved the second reading of Supplemental Budget No. 4 (SB4), amounting to P47 million, during a session at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Proponent Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, explained that the P47.9 million in SB4 comes from the reversion of the current year’s appropriation for personal services. She clarified that these funds represent the city’s savings, which could be used to provide bonuses for government employees if savings allow.
"Para gyud sa mga kalipayon sa mga government employees sa atoang mga plantilla personnel kay nagsubay lang man ta sa office of the President (This is for the bonus of government employees in our plantilla personnel, following the directives from the Office of the President)," Ortiz said in a media interview.
Ortiz added that the approval was delayed as the budget was signed on December 12 but missed the last session. As a result, the council had to hold three special sessions to finalize the approval. She clarified that the fund will be used for the Grant of Service Recognition Incentive (SRI), with approximately 2,395 plantilla employees set to receive P20,000 each.
The SRI is by Administrative Order No. 27 (AO), issued by the Office of the President and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on December 12. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) also released Budget Circular No. 2024-7, outlining the guidelines for the SRI.
The ordinance is expected to be approved on the third and final reading on Monday, December 23, 2024.
In previous sessions, the council approved SB2 worth P600 million and SB3 worth P400 million. RGP