Municipal hall workers to get P20,000 additional Christmas bonus

MUNICIPAL hall workers will be richer by a few thousands of pesos this Christmas. It is expected boost the local economy here.

This, after Mayor Alex R. Jajalla today approves the release of additional Christmas bonus to municipal hall employees following a resolution that the Municipal Council of Mahinog, Camiguin approved on Monday authorizing the release of funds.

“We want to make our municipal hall workers happy this Christmas,” the mayor said.

Municipal treasurer Judith P. Baita said the office of the treasurer will give out the additional Christmas gifts before the 15th of the month.

Those who will receive P20,000 as additional cash gifts will be permanent and casual employees of the municipal government. Employees on job order and honorarium basis can also have additional cash gifts of as much as P5,000 and P1,000, respectively.

In addition, all employees will also get P1,000 worth of grocery items.

Acting municipal budget officer Benito C. Paderanga said the additional cash gifts to about 150 municipal hall employees would cost the municipal government a total of P1.715 million.

The amounts will come from the year-end savings of appropriation, he disclosed.

The additional bonus is on top of the final half of the 13th month pay and P5,000-cash gift that government workers received last month. Half of this was released in the middle of the year.

2009 Camiguin Christmas Festival opens Dec. 16

Mahinog, Camiguin –The spirit of Christmas in this island province of Camiguin will be brought to life as the Provincial Tourism Office officially opened on Wednesday its 2009 Camiguin Christmas Festival, featuring Christmas Tree Contest, Parol sa Barangay Contest and Inter-municipality Belen Contest.

The competition is open to all municipalities and barangays in the province.

For Christmas tree contest, the municipality should display a Christmas tree not less than 15 feet and the entry should be displayed outside the municipal building. Materials to be used will be left to the discretion of the municipality. Up for grabs are P7,000.00 for first placer, P5,000.00 and P3,000.00 for second and third prize winners, respectively. Fourth and fifth place winners will also get P2,500.00 and P2,000.00 respectively.

For Parol sa Barangay category, upland barangay should identify the barangay roads that will serve as their entry, while lowland barangays should place their entry along the national highway.

Christmas lanterns will be judged according to craftsmanship, artistry, uniqueness and presentation. Installation of lights is optional but there will be special prizes for well lighted barangays. The first prize winner will receive P15,000.00 in cash prize while the second and third prize winners will receive P10,000.00 and P7,000.00, respectively. Non-winners will get P2,500 consolation prizes for each barangay.

For the Belen contest, the entry should be a life size "belen" not less than 5 feet and displayed within the Poblacion area. First prize winner for this category will get P8,000.00 while P7,000.00 and P6,000.00 for the second and third placers, respectively. Fourth and fifth placers will get P5,000.00 and P4,000.00 consolation prizes, respectively.

The competition results will be announced at the festival’s awarding ceremonies during the Camiguin Day celebration on January 7, 2010. (Mahinog Information Office)