City Hall workers can’t get CNA incentives

CEBU, Philippines — Employees of the Cebu City government cannot avail of the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive because they do not have a workers association.

Yesterday, City Treasurer Veronica Morelos told reporters that CNA incentive will only apply to LGUs that have organizations of employees and the Cebu City government doesn’t have an association of workers.

"We don't have (union) kay wala'y naka organize. Wala'y nakahuna-huna og organize although sa akoang side, if naa ko'y plan to organize, dili man allowed nga naa ko sa management," Morelos said.

She made this clarification after Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno announced that qualified government employees will receive CNA incentive on top of the 14th month pay and cash bonuses.

Morelos said any rank-and-file employee can lead in the formation of a union and the organization must be accredited by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Those LGUs who have employees’ organizations are obliged to give cash incentive depending on their available funds.

The incentive shall come from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allotments.

To recall, in 2005, an Administrative Order No. 135 was issued authorizing the grant of CNA incentive to government employees.

Under Budget Circular No. 2018-5 signed by Diokno, the rate of incentive shall not exceed P25,000 per qualified employee.

“The CNA incentive may be given equally to all qualified employees…at varying rates in consideration of the employee’s or his/her office’s contribution to the accomplishment of performance targets,” portion of budget circular reads.

The CNA incentive is among the benefits members will get.

"Signing bonus sa CNA pero naa siya'y conditions that employees have to comply. Like in the agreement naa gyu'y side sa employees nga motabang sila," Morelos said.

As provided under the law, CNA incentive “may be granted to both management and rank-and-file employees of agencies with approved and successfully implemented CNAs in recognition of their efforts in accomplishing performance targets at lesser cost, in attaining more efficient and viable operations through cost-cutting measures and systems improvement.”

Records showed there are 1,207 accredited unions nationwide that have an approved and successfully-implemented CNA.

The incentive will be released not earlier than December 15 this year. — MBG (FREEMAN)