Police officers march at the Philippine National Police grounds in Camp Crame in Quezon City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Christmas came early for the personnel of the Philippine National Police as they were among the first to receive their government-mandated bonus amounting to more than P8 billion.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said P8,190,063,990.13 was released for the year-end bonus and cash gift to the agency’s 222,418 personnel.
The bonus, equivalent to their 14th month pay, and P5,000 cash gift were credited to the bank accounts of the PNP personnel on Thursday—a day after Carlos received his fourth star, promoting him to the rank of a police general, from President Duterte.
PNP spokesperson Col. Roderick Augustus Alba, however, said the Christmas bonus and cash gifts were deferred for personnel with pending administrative cases.
Another on Dec. 15
The release of the year-end bonus and cash gift is pursuant to Department of Budget and Management’s Budget Circular No. 2016-4, which mandates that the said incentives be given not earlier than Nov. 15.
All government workers—regardless of their status as regular, contractual or casual—are qualified to receive the incentives.
On top of these bonuses, government employees can also look forward to receiving their productivity enhancement incentive, which will be released starting Dec. 15.
Bonuses and other benefits, including productivity incentives and Christmas bonuses, are exempted from tax if they do not exceed P90,000, according to Republic Act No. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.