Cebu City Hall Employees Anticipate Charter Day Bonus Amid Financial Review
Employees of Cebu City Hall are set to receive a Charter Day bonus this year, as confirmed by local officials. However, the exact amount remains undetermined, pending a thorough review of savings across various departments. This cautious approach ensures that the disbursement of funds strictly adheres to established budget regulations and audit requirements.
Mayor Archival Emphasizes Compliance and Transparency
Mayor Nestor Archival stated on Monday that while the administration is committed to providing this incentive, the city is currently gathering resources from different offices. This process aims to determine a lawful and appropriate bonus amount. "We are striving to identify available funds. If we have sufficient savings, we will distribute them properly," Archival told reporters, highlighting the importance of following correct procedures and maintaining complete documentation.
Historical Context and Employee Impact
Cebu City celebrates its Charter Day every February 24, commemorating its establishment as a chartered city in 1937 under Commonwealth Act No. 58. With approximately 7,000 employees, the City Hall workforce includes regular, casual, and job order workers. In 2024, regular and casual employees received P25,000 each, while job order workers were granted P5,000 as gratuity pay. Notably, no bonus was issued in 2025 due to a Commission on Elections ban on public fund releases during the election period.
Audit Lessons Guide Current Process
The current review is influenced by past audit issues flagged by the Commission on Audit. In 2023, COA halted the release of P71.698 million in Charter Service Incentives due to insufficient documentation and reports detailing recipients' contributions. Under the previous administration of Mayor Michael Rama, employees received a P15,000 performance-based bonus, but this was suspended by COA, which requested justifications and additional documents, warning of potential disallowance if requirements were unmet.
Archival emphasized that lessons from these audit findings guide his administration in managing employee incentives. Each of the city's 27 departments has its own budget, necessitating a careful assessment of unobligated funds before finalizing the bonus. "We want to do this the right way, meaning we follow the proper process and ensure documents are complete," he added. A clearer picture of the bonus amount is expected early next week after the administrative review concludes.
