Guidelines issued on grant of bonuses to gov’t workers

MANILA, Philippines -  The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently released the guidelines on the grant of performance-based bonus to government offices and personnel.

 “To heighten public accountability and transparency, promote greater collaboration among agencies, and ensure accessible and convenient delivery of services to the Filipino people, the government is refocusing the Results-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS), along with incentive component – the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS),” the DBM said in memorandum circular 1-2017.

 “The RBPMS will aim not only to promote good governance practices, link budget with outcomes and outputs, strengthen performance management and monitoring in the government but also speed up the streamlining of agency front line services,” it added.

 All departments, bureaus, offices and other agencies, such as the Congress, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, local government units, state universities and colleges, constitutional commissions, government-owned or controlled corporations, and local water districts are covered by the circular.

 All officials and employees of the eligible departments with regular plantilla positions, contractual personnel having employer-employee relationship with said agencies, those compensated through the lump sum appropriation under Personnel Services and those occupying positions in the DBM-approved staffing pattern are also eligible to get the bonus.

 Also covered are agencies and their corresponding delivery units or offices who meet good governance conditions and performance targets, and use Civil Service Commission (CSC)-approved Performance Management System (PMS) in rating the performance of officials and employees.

 Good governance includes maintaining the Agency Transparency Seal, posting of all bid invitations and awarded contracts in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, compliance with the anti-red tape program of the government, and development of the agency’s Freedom of Information manual.

 Assessment of agency compliance with the said conditions will start on Oct. 1, 2017.

 Performance targets, meanwhile, refer to major final outputs, support to operations and general administration and support services targets.

 Employees of the top 10 percent best delivery units will receive an incentive of 65 percent of their monthly basic salary, the next 25 percent will get 57.5 percent of their monthly earnings, and the next 65 percent (50 percent of their salary).

 The DBM, Office of the President, Commission on Higher Education, Governance Commission for GOCCs, Local Water Utilities Administration, Department of Interior and Local GOvernment, and Department of Education will closely coordinate to ensure the implementation of the circular.