CEBU CITY – Mayor Nestor Archival has issued a clarification regarding the financial assistance for thousands of non-regular employees of the Cebu City government, stating it is a gratuity pay and not a Christmas bonus as he initially referred to it.
Correction on Terminology and Source of Funds
During a press conference on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Archival apologized for his earlier statement, explaining that national regulations explicitly prohibit the granting of bonuses to casual and job order (JO) personnel. "The terminology was wrong. I'm sorry for that," the mayor stated.
He detailed that the city will distribute P7,000 in gratuity pay to each eligible worker, in full compliance with recent national directives. The amount was initially set at P5,000, but the city sourced an additional P2,000 to reach the maximum allowable sum. Archival has directed the City Treasurer's Office to ensure the funds are released before Christmas.
Who Qualifies for the P7,000 Gratuity Pay?
The clarification follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s signing of Administrative Order (AO) 39 on December 11, 2025. This order authorizes a one-time gratuity pay for contract of service (COS) and JO workers across government entities.
To qualify, workers must have:
- Rendered at least four months of actual and satisfactory service as of December 15, 2025.
- Have a contract still effective on that same date.
Those with less than four months of service will receive a pro-rated amount:
- 3 to less than 4 months: Up to P6,000
- 2 to less than 3 months: Up to P5,000
- Less than 2 months: Up to P4,000
The Cebu City Government employs over 4,000 personnel, including more than 2,000 casual employees and approximately 1,000 JO staff. The majority of these over 3,000 non-regular workers are expected to receive the incentive once the city council completes its review process.
Recognizing Contributions of Non-Regular Staff
Mayor Archival emphasized that this gratuity is separate from the workers' regular compensation, noting that many JO workers take home around P12,000 in salary. The national AO recognizes the significant contribution of COS and JO workers to public service delivery.
While these employees often receive salaries comparable to regular staff, they are not entitled to standard government benefits such as the year-end bonus, performance-based bonus, or personnel economic relief allowance. The gratuity pay serves as a year-end acknowledgment of their work.
Meanwhile, regular employees of Cebu City will still receive their separate Christmas bonus of P15,000. The gratuity pay for national government workers, including those in agencies, state colleges, and government corporations, could be released starting December 15, as the order took effect immediately upon publication.
