MALACAÑANG BACKED Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s policy to deny Christmas bonus to local government employees who refuse Covid-19 vaccination, saying such bonus is not mandatory.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there is nothing wrong with Rama’s “no vaccine, no Christmas bonus” policy, adding the granting of a Christmas bonus is not mandatory.
“Wala po akong nakikitang
pagkakamali diyan kasi Christmas
bonus po ang pinag-uusapan. Hindi naman po
requirement ng batas na magbigay ng Christmas bonus. Ang requirement po para sa mga taong gobyerno ay 13th and 14th month pay,” he said.
Roque said the mayor’s policy is acceptable to
convince more people to get inoculated against the deadly respiratory disease. “Dahil discretionary po ang Christmas bonus, pupuwedeng gamitin po iyan kabahagi ng incentive para makapagbakuna ang mas marami sa atin,” he said.
Rama
explained there is a need for such a policy to set themselves as an example for
their citizens as government employees.
Roque said the mayor’s policy is acceptable to
convince more people to get vaccinated. “Dahil discretionary po ang Christmas bonus, pupuwedeng gamitin po iyan kabahagi ng incentive para makapagbakuna ang mas marami sa atin,” he said.
Nearly 300,000 have been vaccinated in Cebu City
whose population is almost one million. (Ruth Abbey Carlos)
