Capitol employees look forward to their Christmas party today and receiving their bonus despite the crisis in the Office of the Governor.
But which “governor” will release it and when?
Suspended Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia vowed to announce today the amount employees will receive after seeking an appropriation from the Provincial Board in a special session.
(Last year the bonus was P20,000 per worker)
Acting Governor Agnes Magpale said a special PB session will be held for this at 4 p.m. and that she would be the one to announce the amount in her office at the Legislative Building.
“I can’t tell yet how much the Province can afford as a bonus until I sit down with the provincial treasurer,” she said, even as treasurer Roy Salubre, absent in a crucial department heads meeting with Magpale yesterday, wrestles over which governor to obey.
Magaple said she set a 9 a.m. meeting today with the department heads, then a 10 a.m. Mass before the party at lunch.
If Salubre doesn’t show up again, she said this would affect the release of the employees bonus or open him up to a charge of insurbordination if he transacts with Garcia.
Yesterday, the General Services Office (GSO) chief presented to her a purchase order for rice sacks to be distributed to employees.
Magapale said she signed it because it was needed for Christmas. But other than this, the employees Christmas bonus and the P2,400 bonus for each barangay health worker, Magpale said she would not sign any other fund releases this year until her four-member transition team of lawyers reviews provincial contracts.
The Christmas party will be held in the Capitol Social Hall, with Garcia expected to preside and give a speech. Magpale said employees are free to attend that but that she herself won’t be there.
“My focus now is to perform the duties as governor and I will not be distracted by her (Garcia) presence,” she told reporters.
Those who met with Magpale past 4 p.m. were Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon, Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin, Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil, Eva Encabo who represented Internal audit chief Manny Guial, and assistant treasurer Jonelyn Arnas./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol