AS the wealthiest city in Region 1, Urdaneta offers its dedicated employees greater year-end benefits than any other city in the region.

Mayor Julio Parayno III announced that Urdaneta stands out as the sole Local Government Unit (LGU) in Region 1 to provide a 14th-month pay to its workforce, distributing half—equivalent to one month’s salary—in July and the remaining half in December.

While the 13th-month pay is mandated for all LGUs and government agencies, including state universities and colleges, Parayno expressed optimism that if regulations permit, the city could give higher  Service Recognition Incentives (SRI) and gratuity pay for its employees.

As the only first-class city in Pangasinan, and one of just two in Region 1, Urdaneta is capable of granting permanent employees an SRI of P40,000, while contractual and job-order employees may receive P30,000. The city is also prepared to offer more than the P5,000 per employee Productivity Enhancement Incentive, as outlined in a presidential administrative order.

The other first-class city in the region is Candon City, located in Ilocos Sur.

Urdaneta’s annual income of P1.99 billion—almost reaching the P2 billion mark—derives equally from local revenues and Internal Revenue Allotment. The city operates the Urdaneta City University and generates substantial income from tipping fees for waste disposal from neighboring LGUs at its sanitary landfill.

Currently, Urdaneta is constructing an 11-story building that will become the tallest structure in Pangasinan, featuring rental function rooms for various events and several commercial spaces.

Parayno emphasized that Urdaneta, recognized as the melting pot of eastern Pangasinan, now outpaces Dagupan City and all other cities in the province in attracting investments. (Leonardo Micua)