Three Quezon City councilors led by Winnie Castelo of District 2 have proposed an ordinance to grant a productivity incentive equivalent to one month’s salary to city employees.
Covered by Ordinance No. 466 are all city personnel, whether holding plantilla or permanent positions, or on job order or contract of service arrangement. Thousands of city workers will benefit from the proposal, Castelo noted.
Castelo’s co-authors are Councilors Karl Edgar Castelo of District 5 and Melencio Castelo Jr. of District 6.
They suggested that the amount needed for the incentive be taken from “any available funds of the city.”
Castelo said the extra one-month salary grant “would be additional financial assistance to our employees, who have been suffering from economic hardship caused by the almost two-year COVID-19 pandemic.”
It would be on top of whatever amount of aid they have received from the city and the national government, the councilor said.
Castelo said city employees have shown their dedication and commitment to public service from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The continuous delivery of quality and world-class services to Quezon City residents during these trying times and the accomplishment of the city’s objectives would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of its employees,” he stressed.
Castelo pointed out that the city has the finances to grant a uniform additional compensation equivalent to one-month salary to its employees, regardless of employment status.
He added that as of Aug. 18, a report from the City Treasurer showed that real estate tax collections had amounted to P3.8 billion, while business tax revenues totaled P9.1 billion.
“The city has a stable financial position despite the economic downturns experienced by different sectors around the country caused by the pandemic. The city owes this success to its employees who work unselfishly, unmindful of the dangers posed by the virus to their health and well-being,” he said.
“It is high time we show our appreciation to our city personnel through the grant of a productivity incentive,” the councilor said.
Castelo noted that in 2019, the city had given an incentive equivalent to one month’s salary to its plantilla personnel and P3,000 to its contractual (job order and contract of service) workers.