Caloocan gov’t employees to receive holiday benefits

’Tis the season to be jolly—especially if you’re an employee of the Caloocan City government.

Only recently, Mayor Enrico Echiverri ordered the release of the 13th month pay of workers at city hall.

The order was in a memorandum signed by the local chief executive which was circulated to the departments in charge of preparing the employees’ vouchers.

“All department/offices involved in the preparation of… the payroll… are hereby directed to facilitate the immediate release of [the employees’ 13th month pay),” Echiverri said.

Under the amended Presidential Decree No. 851, all employers are required to give the financial incentive to rank-and-file employees not later than December 24 each year.

An employer, however, may opt to release one-half of the required amount before the opening of the regular school year, and the remainder on or before December 24.

The 13th month pay should not be less than 1/12 of the total basic salary that the employee earns within the calendar year, according to the law.

On top of the holiday cash incentive, the workers at city hall will also receive their 14th month pay before the end of the year, according to the city’s Public Information Office.

In 2010, around 2,000 employees received the same monetary benefit from the Caloocan government.