By CESAR JOLITO III

More than 1,300 employees of the Bacolod City government are set to receive higher pay starting August 15, as part of the second tranche of the modified salary schedule for local government personnel.

Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed that the salary adjustment will cover not only regular employees but also plantilla casuals and elected city officials.

The move follows the city council’s approval of an appropriation ordinance adopting Executive Order (EO) 64-2024, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on August 2, 2024.

“This adjustment recognizes the hard work of our city personnel and is in line with national directives to improve compensation in the public sector,” Gasataya said.

In addition to the pay hike, the mayor signed EO 29 on August 11, creating a technical working group (TWG) to oversee the implementation of a new medical allowance program for qualified city government personnel.

The medical allowance, authorized under Section 7 of EO 64 and detailed in the Department of Budget and Management’s Budget Circular No. 2024-6, will provide subsidies for health maintenance organization-type benefits to civilian government workers, including those in local government units.

Gasataya stressed the importance of updating employee benefits amid economic challenges, noting that a healthier and more secure workforce translates to better public service.

“We need a competent, committed, agile, and healthy workforce to meet the demands of the people of Bacolod,” Gasataya said.

The TWG will be chaired by City Administrator Mark Mayo, with City Budget Officer Ma. Imelda Williams as vice chairperson, and members from the city’s legal, health, treasury, accounting, and human resource offices./CJ, WDJ