BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution requesting Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong to work out the early release of the 14th month pay of the officials and employees of the city government.
The resolution authored by all members of the city legislative body states that while employees of the city government continue to receive their salaries as provided for under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1-2020 of the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of the Interior and City Government, there is a need for them to be proactive by having extra cash and savings readily available for any eventuality brought about by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on the government’s effort to fight the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Under existing rules and regulations governing the release of the 14th month pay of officials and employees, the same should be released after May 15 of every year while the 13th month pay which is equivalent to one-month salary plus P5,000 is released after November 15 of every year.
The resolution notes that officials and employees of the city government need additional money to help them defray the increasing expenditures of their families during this enhanced community quarantine while they are asked to do their work at home, while some who are essential service providers are mandated to report for work in their respective offices.
However, City Accountant Antonio Tabin expressed doubts on the legality of releasing the 14th month pay earlier than what had been scheduled as the release of the same pursuant to existing guidelines, thus, the need for the city’s finance committee to inquire from the regional office of the budget department if the proposal to release the bonus earlier is allowed.
He explained that the 14th month pay is equivalent to the one month salary of the city government officials and workers that is mandated to be released after May 15 of every year while the 13th month pay is always released every November 15 of every year and that the same is equivalent to one month salary plus P5,000.
Despite the hesitance of the members of the city’s finance committee to accede to the resolution, the city legislative body decided to pass the same and left the discretion of releasing the same considering that it will be for the overall benefit of the over 1,500-strong officials and employees of the city.
Tabin asserted that the matter will have to pass through the approval of the budget department, thus, the importance of having to inquire from the said agency whether or not it will be legitimate to release the aforesaid regular compensation being granted to qualified officials and employees of the city.
By Dexter A. See