Government workers to receive 14th-month pay starting mid-May

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MANILA — Starting the middle of May, government personnel will receive their bigger midyear bonuses, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In an April 28 circular, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said that Executive Order (EO) No. 201 signed by President Aquino in February mandated the grant of a midyear bonus—the “14th-month pay” equivalent to one-month basic salary.

Government employees—both civilian and military personnel—will receive this additional benefit by May 15, the DBM has announced.

Employees at government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, meanwhile, will not be covered as they have a separate Compensation and Position Classification System or CPCS under EO 203, which President Aquino signed last month.

As for the yearend bonus also equivalent to one month of basic pay as well as the cash gift of P5,000, these would be given away not earlier than November 15, the DBM said.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad and President Benigno Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Previously, the yearend bonus or “13th-month pay” was given in two tranches—the first in May ahead of the opening of classes, and the second in November.

EO 201 raised the salaries of civilian personnel as well as granted new and increased allowance for military and uniformed personnel.

The DBM noted that the EO has been aimed at “[ensuring] that the government compensation structure is comparable with the prevailing rates in the private sector, thereby attracting and retaining competent and committed civil servants.”

The DBM will soon release to agencies the Special Allotment Release Order for midyear bonuses based on the number of filled positions as of April 30 and reflected on the Government Manpower Information System, after which the corresponding Notices of Cash Allocation will also be released not earlier than May 15, according to Abad.  SFM