Gov't workers to get 3 bonuses this year

MANILA, Philippines - Government employees will get three bonuses this holiday season, Malacañang said on Friday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the three bonuses include: the 13th month pay, the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) bonus and the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB).

"Naging tatlo na po yung bonus na pinag-uusapan natin. Una, yung 13th month bonus po natin. Yung 13th month pay po natin ay kapareho din po nung mga natatanggap ng kawani sa pribadong sektor. Pangalawa, yung tinatawag po nating Productivity Enhancement Incentive at yung bago pong bonus na pinag-uusapan po natin yung performance-based bonus," said Valte.

She said that government employees received P10,000 each for the PEI bonus.

Valte said that last year, the P10,000 PEI bonus for all government employees came from the national government's funds. She explained that in previous years, the P10,000 bonus is sourced from the national government and from the savings of the respective agencies.

"Ang nangyayari po noon -- at least in the case of 2010, meron po kasing mga ahensiyang wala hong savings kaya hindi po nila naibibigay ’yung component nila. Noong 2011, ang ginawa po ng national government ’yung buong P10,000 po binigay na mula sa national government. So pantay-pantay po ‘yung nakuha natin apart from the 13th month bonus," she explained.

With regards to the PBB, she said: "essentially, kung magkano po ‘yung makukuha may range po tayo diyan. Kung hindi po ako nagkakamali nasa P5,000 hanggang P35,000 ‘yung range po nun, at ginagawa (na) ho nila ngayon ‘yung mga requisitos na kailangan."

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already directed all government agencies last August to submit its target for every division, unit, and bureau.

"So essentially, ‘yung pinagkaiba po nito doon sa 13th month pay at sa PEI na binibigay po natin is merit-based po ’yung performance-based bonus as the name suggests," she added.

Valte said all three bonuses will be given this year or before the year ends.

"Yes, this year," she said when asked when will the three bonuses be given to government workers.

"Yung 13th month (bonus) po kasi hinahati po ‘yan sa dalawang tranche. ‘Yung una po binibigay ng Mayo; ‘yung pangalawa, binibigay po ng Nobyembre. ‘Yung PEI po, normally, naibibigay po ‘yan around December. I will consult with the agencies kung kailan po ang target nila for the PBB," she added.