The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance granting economic assistance to qualified officials and employees of the city government.
The ordinance authored by all members of the city legislative body stated that all officials and employees of the city government, whether appointed or elected, permanent or temporary, casual or contractual, job order or otherwise, drawing their salaries and wages from the general fund, shall be granted economic assistance in the amount equivalent to one month of their basic salary as of November 15, 2019.
Further, the ordinance added that officials and employees paid under other special purpose funds shall also receive the prescribed economic assistance from the said sources of funds.
However, the ordinance stipulated that when the said special purpose fund is governed by a board or committee, grant and payment of the economic assistance shall be pursuant to the guidelines set forth by the board and committee in charge of the said funds.
The ordinance disclosed officials and employees who are qualified to be granted the economic assistance are those who have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of 4 months of service, including leave of absence with pay as of November 15, 2019; those who are on approved leave without pay but have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of 4 months of service, provided that, they are not yet dropped from the rolls; those who have rendered less than 4 months of service, but subject to the limitations imposed by the provisions of the proposed measure; personnel who are formally charged with administrative or criminal cases which are still pending for resolution,; personnel who have been found guilty and meted penalty shall not be entitled to economic assistance in the year the decision was handed down and if the penalty meted out is only a reprimand, such penalty shall not disqualify the personnel concerned to receive the economic assistance.
On the other hand, officials and employees who have rendered less than 4 months of services as November 15, 2019 shall be entitled to the prescribed economic assistance pro-rated, 3 months but less than 4 months – 40 percent, 2 months but less than 3 months – 30 percent, 1 month but less than 2 months – 20 percent and less than 1 month – 10 percent.
The ordinance authorized the city’s City Finance Committee to utilize savings from the general funds for the said grant of economic assistance to officials and employees and that the Committee shall determine the savings from personal services or maintenance and other operating expenses and shall set aside the necessary funds to cover the economic assistance and disburse the same pursuant to the usual accounting and auditing procedures and subject to availability of funds.
The ordinance pointed out that the prescribed economic assistance to officials and employees shall be immediately paid to the concerned individuals upon approval of the proposed measure.
The ordinance asserted that the grant of the economic assistance to officials and employees is in recognition of their exemplary performance that made positive impact on the lives of the people of the city as to the delivery of basic services and responsive governance among others.
By Dexter A. See
