Mayor wants council to okay cash gifts

TOMORROW is the Cebu City Council’s last session day for the year, but Mayor Michael Rama wants them to approve a supplemental budget for the P10,000 cash gift for each City Hall employee.

In yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony, Rama said he will give a P10,000 cash gift to the city’s 5,000 regular and casual employees in compliance with a directive issued by President Benigno Aquino III.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said there may not be enough time to pass the supplemental budget. He also said there may not be enough funds for the cash gifts.

He said City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo told the council earlier that the city was expected to be at least P800 million short of its 4.5-billion revenue estimate this year.

“We keep talking about how we are short of funds so we can’t give something to the employees. Where’s the Christmas spirit?” the mayor said.

Rama said he  already gave instructions to the budget office to prepare Supplemental Budget 3.

Even with the presidential directive, Young said it was already too late for Rama to ask for passage of Supplemental Budget 3.

Still, the vice mayor said the council can convene for a special session if there are funds for the cash gifts.

Rama said the extra cash gift will be given on top of the P2,000 productivity bonus that the city would give out to City Hall employees early next year.

A P3,000 anniversary bonus will also be given during the city’s 75th Charter Anniversary on Feb. 24. Anniversary bonuses are given every five months. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac