By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Government is seeking approval of a P916-million supplemental budget for 2024 to fund gratuity pay for job orders, casual, and contract of service workers, as well as programs on education, social services, and environmental protection.
Under the proposal, workers who have rendered at least four months of service by December 15 will receive P7,000 each, per Budget Circular 2024-8 issued by the Department of Budget and Management. Those under four months will get a prorated amount of P4,000 to P6,000.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chair of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, said during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos media forum on Tuesday, August 26, that the city council has scrutinized the measure.
He added that it is now set for approval on the third and final reading before being forwarded to acting city Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte for signing.
Dayanghirang recalled that a similar gratuity pay was planned two years ago under a directive from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but the city government opted not to release the funds as the order came too late in the year.
The councilor added that the council’s thorough review of the proposal was intended to prevent suspicions that the payout could be linked to the May 2025 elections.
Once passed, the P916-million allocation is expected to provide financial relief to thousands of job order, casual, and COS workers while reinforcing the city’s education, social welfare, and environmental programs.
