Davao City gov't seeks OK of P916 M for gratuity pay, social services
By Ivy Tejano
DAYANGHIRANG
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government is seeking approval of a P916-million supplemental budget for 2024 that will provide gratuity pay to job order, casual, and contract of service employees, alongside funding for education, social services, and environmental programs.
Under the proposal, qualified job order, casual, and COS workers who have rendered at least four months of service as of Dec. 15, 2024, will each receive a P7,000 gratuity, in line with Budget Circular 2024-8 issued by the Department of Budget and Management.
Those with less than four months of service will receive a prorated amount ranging from P4,000 to P6,000.
Speaking at the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos media forum on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 26, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, confirmed that the budget measure has been scrutinized in the city council.
He added that the supplemental budget measure is set for approval on the third and final reading before transmittal to acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte for signing.
Dayanghirang noted that a similar gratuity pay was supposed to be implemented two years ago, following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but the city government opted not to release the funds after receiving the memorandum too late in the year.
The councilor said the move to scrutinize the matter was meant to avoid public suspicion that the payout might be used for political purposes before the elections.
Once enacted, Dayanghirang said the supplemental budget is expected to provide much-needed financial relief to the city’s job order, casual, and COS workers while bolstering Davao City’s education, social welfare, and environmental protection programs.