Civil servants’ clothing allowance raised to P5,000 in 2011

MANILA, Philippines—Employees of national civilian agencies will receive a bigger clothing allowance this year at P5,000 each, higher by a quarter than the P4,000 given out in 2011.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said in a statement a total of P1.28 billion has been earmarked for government workers’ “clothing and uniform grant.”

“By scaling up this year’s (grant), we help minimize the financial burden on government employees and give them more leg room to comply with the dress codes of their respective offices,” Abad said.

“The grant is designed to identify all personnel with their respective agencies or departments, as well as provide protective clothing for workers engaged in labor-heavy services,” Abad said.

The allowance comes as uniforms bought through the standard bidding process, or textile supplies and cash to support tailoring expenses.

Also, the grant is given in cash to incumbents of executive positions who are not required to wear uniforms or are tasked to secure their own individual uniforms.

Abad said P4,000 of this year’s allowance would be charged against the comprehensive allotment under personal services while the additional P1,000 would come from the miscellaneous personnel benefits funds.

Based on a budget circular issued last Feb. 20, the latest release does not cover the clothing and uniform expenses of military and uniformed personnel, who are already supported by a separate fund for their uniform needs.

“Foreign service personnel stationed abroad are also excluded, since they are not required to wear uniforms and are sufficiently supported by a set living allowance,” the memo said.

Others not covered by the fund release are barangay officials and employees paid monthly honoraria because they are hired on a part-time basis and are not required to comply with dress codes or wear uniforms.  Excluded are workers hired without employee-employer relationships as well as those funded from non-personal services appropriations.

These include consultants hired for specific activities and services for a limited period, laborers hired through job contracts and those paid on a piecework basis, student laborers and apprentices as well as other workers engaged through job orders, contracts of services, and other similar arrangements.