After Task Force Kasanag (TFK) filed a complaint last week with the Office of the President against Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and several city officials in connection with P8 million in cash gifts distributed to members of the Bacolod City Government Employees Union (BCGEU), Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa, Jr. questioned the justification for the funding and why the group’s Year End Assessment-Christmas Party went on for three days.

“This P8 million budget should be considered in various lights, primarily, was it expended judiciously and within propriety?” he asked. “Secondarily, there are legal issues to this matter.”

He cited the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) budget circulars, which notes “rules and regulations on the payment of cash gifts and year-end bonuses.”

Gamboa explained, the distribution of gift packs for job order casuals is not allowed.

The city councilor noted, under the previous administration under former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, the budget for the said event was P5.6 million. He cited a Department of the Interior and Local Government circular that dictated the government could provide old job order casuals cold receive a maximum of P2,000, while new job order casuals would receive up to P1,000 in “gratuity.”

Gamboa specified the current P8 million was released on a “sheer conduit” to the BCGEU.

The city official also noted, with the event considered an “assessment of the annual delivery of services,” he said BCGEU has no official jurisdiction, duty, or function in terms of service delivery assessment.

Meanwhile, BCGEU President Allyn Luv Zamora-Dignadice said they will submit a fund utilization report and insisted the funding for the project originated from a budget surplus.

In addition, Jake Castillano, BCGEU vice president, confirmed job order employees received gift packs worth over P1,000; however, Zamora-Dignadice affirmed cash was not distributed, only gift packs./JSG, WDJ