Mandaue execs, workers to receive P20K incentive

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City officials and employees will receive a ?20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) within the week after the City Council approved on Monday an ordinance implementing the Administrative Order No. 27 of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. granting incentives to qualified government employees for fiscal year 2024.

Councilor Marie Immaline Cortes-Zafra, who authored the ordinance, told reporters that this one-time incentive serves as an additional Christmas gift the city government has been waiting to provide its employees.

“At least Merry ang Christmas, ginagmay-gagmay pero at least kani siya ma-happy ang mga pamilya nila,” said Cortes-Zafra, who chairs the Committee on Appropriation, Budget, and Finance.

According to Section 6 of AO No. 27, the grant of one-time SRI to employees in the local government units shall be determined by the respective Sanggunians depending on the LGU’s financial capability.

Mandaue City Budget Officer Atty. Giovanni Y. Tianero certified on December 13 the availability of funds for the SRI.

Tianero informed the council yesterday that the SRI can be distributed this week, as long as employees can show proof that they have rendered at least four months of service, as stipulated in Administrative Order No. 27.

The personnel should have rendered at least a total of an aggregate of four months of satisfactory service as of November 30, 2024, inclusive of services rendered under any of the alternative work arrangements prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Further, the employee has not received any additional year-end benefit in FY 2024 over and above the authorized under Republic Act No. 6686 or otherwise known as an act authorizing annual Christmas bonus to National and Local Government officials and employees starting calendar year 1988.

Meanwhile, those who have rendered less than a total of an aggregate of four months of satisfactory service shall be entitled to “pro-rated SRI.”

The pro-rated SRI depends on the length of service rendered of the personnel. For those personnel who work for three months but less than four months of service will get 40% of SRI.

Moreover, personnel with two months but less than 3 months of service will get 30% of SRI; 20% for one month but less than two months of service; and 10% of SRI for less than one month of service.

Cortes-Zafra said that the P20,000 SRI for Mandaue City officials and employees will be sourced from the city’s General Fund.

The ordinance approving the incentive will take effect immediately upon approval by Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede.

The SRI is an incentive granted to government workers in the country in recognition of their unwavering commitment and dedication to providing effective and efficient public service, despite the challenges posed by various domestic and external factors.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) is also set to release through its regional offices the P20,000 incentive for teaching and non-teaching personnel starting on  Friday, December 20.

“As instructed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman worked together to provide the full amount of Php 20,000 SRI for 2024,” read part of DepEd’s announcement yesterday.

DepEd has already begun processing the necessary requirements for the disbursement of the SRI 2024, right after the release of Administrative Order No. 27 by the Office of the President.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed his gratitude to the president  and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for ensuring that teachers and non-teaching personnel are given the full SRI allowed for their unwavering commitment in basic education

“This is a historic moment for DepEd, as we are able to grant the highest SRI ever for our workforce. We are deeply grateful to President Marcos Jr. for his steadfast support in prioritizing the welfare of teachers and staff who serve as the backbone of the education sector,” Angara said.

“We also thank DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for working with us to provide this incentive to our personnel. It is a testament to how much we value the dedication and sacrifices of our education frontliners, especially as they continue to ensure learning excellence amidst all challenges,” he added.

Following the release of a DBM Circular Letter and a DepEd Memorandum on FY 2024 SRI, the funding of SRI will be downloaded to Regional Offices (ROs) by Friday for immediate disbursement to the teachers and non-teaching personnel. — (FREEMAN)