Mayor Garcia orders fast-tracking of bonus

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia is back at City Hall after being out of the country for a week and has immediately ordered for the processing of City Hall employees’ bonuses so it can be released by the first week of December.

Garcia, who was in Yokohama, Japan to attend the 13th Asian Smart Cities Conference, arrived last Sunday evening and went straight to Sitio Alegre in Barangay Basak San Nicolas to check on the situation of the fire victims, according to the City’s PIO. Garcia has assured the fire victims of financial assistance from the City government.

During the City Hall’s regular flag raising ceremony yesterday, Garcia thanked City Hall employees, with special mention of several departments, like the City’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the Cebu City Transportation Office, Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team, the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement team, Office of the Building Official, and the Department of Public Services’ street cleaning division for keeping the City “safe and clean” amidst typhoon Kristine.

While Garcia was away, Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros was the acting mayor where he issued executive orders suspending classes in both public and private schools in the city for everyone’s safety in line with the bad weather caused by typhoon Kristine.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works was also acknowledged by Garcia for its “asphalt storm” done in different roads in the city under the supervision of City Councilor Jerry Guardo.

Garcia also recognized several other departments for their latest achievements, including the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries for being the only one from the region to have passed the standards of the local meat inspection system evaluation by the National Meat Inspection System.

The City Health Department also got a special citation from the Department of Health for its mental health initiatives and the Behind Bars Integrated Jail- decongestion and jail management program, as well as for an outstanding jail service award.

The Lumad Basakanon was also recognized by Garcia for bagging the grand prize in the Kasanggayahan Festival in Sorsogon.

Garcia also acknowledged the City Treasurer’s Office for being in the top 10 nationwide on year growth on local source revenues for HUCs and for local sources’ revenues in nominal term as recognized by the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance. Cebu City is the only one from region-7 that got included in the top 10.

With the several achievements of the City Hall’s departments, Garcia ordered to fast track the release of the employees’ yearend bonuses, including the 14th month pay and the cash gift of P5,000.

 “I have already instructed the City Treasurer’s Office, Accounting and Budget Office to fast track the release of the bonus or the 14th month pay together with the cash gift,” Garcia said.

Along with this, Garcia directed all departments to speed up the process in its payroll.

“I will now instruct and direct all departments concerned for as long as mapaspas ang process sa inyong payroll,” he added.

Garcia said he even wanted to have the 14th month and cash gifts released by November 1, if it were not a holiday.

He also told employees to pray that by the first week of December, they will receive their Christmas bonus.

“Pangadyi nasad mo, sa December, first week, ato sang e-release ang inyong bonus…But of course, that will now depend on the Cebu City Council because SB3 was already submitted last week…It is now up to them. I hope they will fast track the approval of SB3 kay para sa first week of December, release na inyong Christmas bonus,” Garcia said. (CEBU NEWS)