The government will start releasing today (Nov. 15) the year-end and cash gift bonus to qualified civilian and military/uniformed personnel totaling at least P65.3 billion.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the total budget for the grant of the year-end bonus is P56.73 billion while the cash gift amounts to P8.6 billion.
“The release of the year-end bonus and cash gift is provided under our General Appropriations Act for this year. For sure, many of our fellow government workers have been looking forward to this,” she said.
“We wish to remind our fellow government workers to budget and spend wisely, as what we would always promote here at the DBM,” Pangandaman added.
The year-end bonus is equivalent to one month’s basic pay as of October 31 while the cash gift is at P5,000.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. warned officers against soliciting Christmas gifts.
“We are directing our PNP units nationwide to refrain from writing Merry Christmas-themed letters. We know that is common, but we will try to be stricter this time around,” Azurin said.
“Let us feel the plight of our countrymen. Let us celebrate Christmas without spending too much,” he added.
He also advised the public to refrain from handing gifts to police officers, which is prohibited under the law.
“We should refrain from giving gifts because police officers may get used to it. This is why we have given their bonus early and why I said we should spend it properly,” Azurin added.