By Joann Villanueva/PNA
MANILA — Government employees will get the full amount of their Christmas bonuses, the payment of which will begin Thursday if the amount due does not exceed PHP90,000.
Aside from the 14th month pay, which is equivalent to a one-month salary, state workers will also receive their PHP5,000 cash gift on Thursday, Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.
In a briefing Wednesday, Diokno said the distribution of the year-end bonus and the cash gift is in line with Budget Circular No. 2016-4 but these should be given not earlier than Nov. 15 of the current year.
Workers, who are qualified to receive these incentives are those who are still in government service as of Oct. 31 of the current year and have served at least four months since January of the current year.
Diokno said workers who have retired or resigned from their posts before end-October of the same year, but have provided services of at least four months since the start of the year, will be given a pro-rated year-end bonus and cash gift within the month of retirement or separation.
He said about PHP29.7 billion has been allocated under this year’s national budget for the year-end bonuses of civilian personnel while PHP6.5 billion has been allocated for military and uniformed personnel (MUP).
A total of PHP5.6 billion has also been allocated for non-uniformed personnel’s cash gift for this year, and PHP1.7 billion has been programmed for MUPs.
Moreover, Diokno said state workers will receive their PHP5,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) starting December 15.
