MANILA—Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Tuesday said he has given 53 city workers full-time employment status.

"Nu'ng kampanya, sinabi natin na dapat ilayo ang mga ordinaryong kawani ng pamahalaan sa politika. Dati lagi silang tinatakot na makikita kung sino ang binoboto nila at di na sila ire-renew kapag du'n sila sa 'kalaban'," Sotto wrote on Facebook.

"Ngayon wala nang ganitong takutan. Nagsimula na rin tayo sa regularisasyon ng mga kawani nating kwalipikado, para sa seguridad at dignidad sa trabaho."

The 53 workers have held jobs at city hall for more than 20 years.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno rewarded a city employee with a smartphone and a house.

The worker, whom Moreno only identified as Melchor, has been working at city hall for 33 years.

Melchor sleeps at city hall on weekdays and only goes home to Cavite on weekends.

"Bilang pagkilala sa kanyang inialay na serbisyo sa lungsod, ginawaran natin siya hindi lang ng smartphone pati na rin pabahay para sa kanyang pamilya," Moreno wrote in his post.