Vico Sotto grants gratuity pay for Pasig personnel on forced retirement

Personnel of the Pasig City government who went on forced retirement because of the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a separation pay of P10,000 for every year of service, Mayor Vico Sotto said Wednesday.

On Facebook, Sotto also announced that retiring members of Pasig Health Aide will receive an additional P5,000 a year for their service as barangay health workers.

"Kadalasan kapag magreretiro na ang "volunteer status" na staff ng LGU, wala na, 'yun na 'yun, (Usually, when an LGU staff on "volunteer status" retire, that's it, they won't receive anything)," Sotto said.

"Ngunit para sa mga 65 years old pataas na forced retirement dahil sa pandemya, pinilit nating magkaroon sila ng SEPARATION PAY o 'gratuity pay' sa halagang 10K piso para sa bawat taon na nasa ilalim sila ng LGU," the mayor added.

(But for 65 years old and above who went on forced retirement due to the pandemic, we made sure that they will get a separation pay or gratuity pay worth P10,000 for every year they served under the LGU.)

For Sotto, retiring personnel deserve the gratuity pay, adding that these workers helped in enhancing the services of barangay health centers.

At least 73 PHA and 33 from other offices are expected to get the gratuity pay.

As residents aged 65 years and above are not allowed to work, Sotto hoped that the separation pay will aid the retiring personnel in their finances amid pandemic.

"Sana makatulong ito para may maitabi sila o makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo. ( I hope this can help them so that they have some money to save or they can use it to start their own business.)," said Sotto.

Despite the pandemic, Pasig City's employees received a salary increase starting January 2021.—Consuelo Marquez/AOL, GMA News