Gov’t workers begin receiving early Christmas bonus this week

Christmas comes early for the government workforce.

Starting this week, 1.2 million government workers will receive their Christmas cash gift and the remaining 13th month pay, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday.

The early release of the holiday perks would allow the state personnel to prepare for the Christmas season, according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

The first half of the bonuses was already released in May this year.

“For the past year, government employees have been working quietly and without

fanfare for the good of the nation. It’s only proper that their efforts and hard work are given fair recognition. The year-end bonus and extra cash should help them prepare for the holiday season and its demands,” Abad said in a statement.

Government workers are entitled to a year-end bonus equivalent to a month’s pay and cash gift of 5,000 based on Budget Circular 2010-1. The bonuses will be for both civilian and uniformed personnel across all government departments and agencies, including regular co-terminus employees in government.

Abad said the funds for the holiday pay of national government agencies are sourced from this year’s national budget. Government- owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) will tap into their corporate funds for the bonuses, while local government units (LGUs) will source their perks from local government funds.

“Funds to support the requirements of government personnel were released to the agencies at the very start of the year. The General Appropriations Act (GAA)as-release-document ensures that funds are sufficiently available to the agencies from the very start, so that they can roll out the year-end bonuses and cash gifts at the appropriate time,” Abad said.

Last year, President Aquino ordered the early release of the year-end perks of the government workers following the massive destruction left by super typhoon Yolanda. The incentives were meant to help them respond better to the calamity, whether or not they were directly affected by the disaster.