The Mandaue City Government is set to grant a year-end financial boost to its workforce after the City Council approved the release of a P5,000 Performance Enhancement Incentive (PEI) for all employees. The move follows the completion of necessary administrative guidelines and a directive from Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano.
Approval and Initial Delay
Councilor Joel Seno, who chairs the Committee on Appropriation, Budget, and Finance, detailed that the incentive was approved on its third and final reading on December 16, 2025. The approval came at the request of Mayor Ouano, with councilors swiftly processing the measure to facilitate immediate release.
However, Seno explained that the PEI's distribution was initially delayed. The original plan was to release it concurrently with the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI). "That was actually the initial plan to include the PEI with the SRI," Seno stated. This plan hit a snag when the SRI was being prepared on Monday, December 15, as the specific guidelines authorizing the PEI had not yet been signed at that time.
The lack of a legal basis in the relevant administrative orders prompted the temporary hold. "It was not stated in both administrative orders, which is why the release of the PEI was held," Seno clarified.
Path to Release and Holiday Target
The situation progressed when the required administrative guidelines were officially signed on December 18, 2025. Despite this, a logistical challenge emerged: the City Council had already concluded its final session for the year on December 16. This timing means that if the release process cannot be completed swiftly, preparations may extend into January 2026.
"Since it was signed on December 18 and we already had our last special council session on December 16, preparation may move to January 2026," Seno noted. "At least by January, employees will receive another benefit."
Nevertheless, city officials are prioritizing a pre-Christmas release. Mayor Ouano has given clear instructions to disburse available benefits without delay. "The instruction of the mayor is clear, whatever is available should be released immediately and not delayed," Seno emphasized. The city's accounting office is now exerting maximum effort to credit the incentive to employees' accounts before December 24, allowing them to use the funds during the holiday season.
Across-the-Board Recognition and Funding
The P5,000 PEI will be distributed uniformly to all city government employees. Seno highlighted that while individual departments conduct their own annual performance reviews, the city chose this equal distribution to acknowledge the collective effort of the entire workforce throughout 2025.
"This is across the board. Everyone will receive P5000 automatically," Seno said. "Each department has its own performance evaluation, but this incentive is one way of recognizing the initiatives and overall performance of our employees for the entire year."
Funding for the incentive will be sourced entirely from the coffers of the Local Government of Mandaue City. The city administration reiterated its commitment to promptly delivering employee benefits, underscoring that the PEI is part of its efforts to value the dedication and hard work of its personnel, particularly during the festive period.
