Cash aid measure pushed for City Hall workers

Financial assistance ranging from P5,000 to P50,000 will be given to government employees working at City Hall in cases of hospitalization or death in the line of duty if a proposed ordinance will be approved by the City Council.

City Councilor Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, who sponsored the draft ordinance, said what prompted the proposal was when a supervising employee had an accident while working at the North Reclamation Area.

The employee, who worked for 23 years at City Hall, sought financial help from the city government but was turned down because there was no ordinance, which would allow the local government to release funds for this purpose.

The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading at the City Council and would be taken up for second and third reading on the next council session.

“We need an ordinance or resolution for the employee’s financial assistance during times when they meet an accident while on duty,” she said.

The financial assistance of the employees, however, will vary depending on the extent of the injuries the employee will sustain.

The amount of P25,000 to P50,000 will be extended to an employee when he/she loses his/her sight following an accident while working. While P10,000 to P25,000 will be given to an employee who lost any of his/her body part and P5,000 if an employee becomes incapacitated for labor/work for 15 days.

Burial assistance of P25,000 will be extended to an employee if he or she also dies while in the line of work or duty.

A budget of P500,000 from the Human Resource Management Office shall be appropriated annually under the medical fund if the ordinance will be approved.

“The city shall not extend financial assistance to an employee covered under the Civil Service Commission and Department of Budget and Management’s Joint Circular No. 01 series of 2006 regarding the Guidelines for Availing of the Rehabilitation Privilege,” stated in the ordinance.