By Junex Doronio
CEBU CITY — Unable to conceal his disappointment with the Cebu City Council that thrashed his promised Christmas bonus of P35,000 for regular and casual employees and the gratuity pay of P10,000 for job order (JO) personnel, Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama has declared that he will “beg” before a special session to rectify the matter.
Speaking before City Hall employees after the flag ceremony on Monday morning, December 18, Rama — who just come back after his family’s vacation in Australia — could not help but express his extreme disappointment.
“Ready ko mopirma og mga dokumento. Ipadala nako sa konseho. Ikaduha, mangayo kog special session. I will appeal to them, crying, please council make City Hall employees happy. I am back, and I will fight for it,” Rama said.
While Rama was away, the Council approved during its regular session on Wednesday, December 13, the supposed Christmas bonus of only P20,000 for regular and casual employees and P5,000 for JOs.
City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, committee on budget and finance chairman, earlier explained that they were only following the National Government, which had announced that it would give employees in the executive branch a P20,000 bonus, and P5,000 gratuity pay.
Rama admitted that he was emotional and disheartened when he learned that the promise he had made to City Hall employees would not be fulfilled.
“How much was given to the job order (JO) employees? Only P5,000. That’s not what I wanted! This hurts me. I’m confused. Is there another City Hall? Is there another mayor? I’ve never had this experience because I’ve never dictated. I asked and checked how much bonus we could give,” Rama lamented.
He stressed that it is unfair for JOs to receive only P5,000, while regular and casual employees will receive P20,000.
(IA/MNM)
