The Mandaue City Council approved on third and final reading a measure allocating P197.71 million under Supplemental Budget No. 1 for Calendar Year 2026, which includes gratuity pay for Job Order (JO) personnel.
Docketed as DO No. 76-2026 and authored by Councilor Joel Seno, the ordinance provides that city-paid JO workers will receive P5,000 each.
“Akong gihangyo nga ma sod dayon siya kay naghuwat gyud ang empleyado, this is long overdue,” Seno said.
Seno said the funds were sourced from the unutilized 20 percent development fund for 2025 and unimplementable projects, totaling P197,715,908.06.
He added that the gratuity pay was originally intended for release in December 2025 and January 2026 but was delayed due to technical requirements and the need to wait for implementing rules.
“Included in the budget is the gratuity pay for the employees,” Seno said.
The council also allocated portions of the supplemental budget for garbage management and emergency-related expenses.
Seno said the release of the gratuity pay will be done simultaneously, subject to processing by the City Accounting Office.
“They said is best efforts, as soon as possible time,” he said.
City Hall Office Aide Zissell Ann Vaflor, a JO employee, welcomed the development, saying they had long awaited the gratuity pay.
“Lipay kaayo mi nga maabot na gyud siya kay December pa baya ni siya,” Vaflor said.
She added that she plans to use the amount to buy school supplies for her children with the upcoming school opening.
“Nakaana nalang mi, di nalang mi mag hope kay taod-taod na baya gyud siya, pila na gud siya ka months,” she said.
Vaflor also expressed gratitude to Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano and the City Council for approving the measure. (VCL)
Photo from Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Mandaue
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