Bisola David
A Philippines mayor who has been single his entire life will pay single employees three times more on Tuesday in honour of Valentine’s Day.
According to The Punch, Mayor Matt Florido sad that lonely hearts at General Luna Town Hall in Quezon Province will receive more than their typical daily salary if they have been apart for longer than five years.
Other carefree and fancy-free employees will receive double pay or the choice of a paid day off.
Florido, 42, who claims to have been unmarried “from birth,” added, “I know what they’re going through today, I feel for them.”
“No one will buy them flowers or chocolates on Valentine’s Day, so we thought of providing them this kind of incentive so they may also feel loved and cared for.
For the third consecutive year, Florido has given singletons in local government bonus payments.
37 of the 289 town hall workers who through a rigorous verification process to verify their alleged single status qualified for the compensation.
Questions regarding their most recent relationship, the reasons it ended, and their current single status were asked of eligible staff members.
The eldest recipient’s age was 64.
“Since we live in a tiny community, everyone knows one other. Nothing can be hidden, according to Florido in the town where pineapples are grown.
Florido stated that he would pay for the 28,000 peso ($511) gift out of his own pocket and added that the money was also given in recognition of the demands made on single employees to put in extra time when necessary.
“Since they don’t have many duties at home, he said, “we can always count on them to work extra hours, participate in relief efforts, or lose sleep to serve the town.”
According to Florido, employees who were already in a romantic relationship didn’t seem to mind that their single coworkers were paid more.
“Perhaps they are aware of what single individuals experience,” he said.
“The single people will get the money at a Valentine’s Day celebration for the entire staff on Tuesday night.
“The evening’s events will include dating games.
“Who knows, maybe they’ll wind up dating, Florido said.
“Perhaps they’re already flirting with each other.”
