MANILA, Philippines--Government employees will receive their P7, 000 cash bonus Wednesday or at the latest, on Christmas Day, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

Ermita made the assurance amid complaints from the country?s state workers about the delay in the release of their cash gift.

?They may receive it any time today or before Christmas,? Ermita told reporters in his weekly news briefing.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already approved the release of funds for the cash gift, Ermita added.

?The funds are available,? he said.

Malacanang announced on December 9 that government employees will receive from the national government P7, 000 each in bonus and another P3, 000 each from the savings of their respective departments.

Explaining the delay, Ermita said the DBM has to follow some procedures in computing for the bonus and making sure that funds are available.