Rama, Cebu City Council mulls P15T bonus for employees

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday met with members of the Local Finance Committee to assess how the P24 million adjustment in the second tranche of the supplemental budget (SB2) will affect the city’s operation.

Rama also asked the committee to prepare for a  supplemental budget 3 (SB3)  for approval by the  City Council to fund the proposed P15,000 bonus of each city employee.

Asked if city officials would  also get bonuses, he said “I have not discussed that.   I’m not interested to help myself first,  I am more interested to help our employees.”

The City Council on Nov. 14 approved a  resolution sponsored by Councilor Leah Japson asking the mayor to release a  P15,000   bonus for  each of the city’s close to 5,000 regular and casual employees

Japson said  elected officials would not be included.

Rama said the City Council resolution was like “manna from heaven” because he only thought of giving a  P10,000  bonus.

With the City Council’s endorsement, Rama said he already asked the LFC  to identify a funding source.

He said that if more funding is made available, elected city officials may also enjoy  bonuses like they used to in previous years.

“I will be calling another meeting with  LFC members to see if there is enough savings,” he said.

Rama said the proposed SB3 may include the funding for other important needs of the city.

During the LFC  meeting, the mayor was briefed on how the P24 million adjustment in the SB2 would  affect  city government operations.

With the cut in the mayor’s   gasoline request from P30 million to  P15 million, austerity measures like reduction of gas allocations for city and barangay vehicles by half will  go on.  /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac