Early Christmas gifts for CH employees

CEBU, Philippines – Employees of the city government can expect the second half of their 13th month pay, as well as their cash gift by next week, Councilor Jose Daluz III said yesterday.

The bonuses are expected to be released on or before November 15. The first half of the 13th month pay was released last June. The 13th month pay will depend on the sal-ary grade of each employee. Meanwhile, each employee will receive P5,000 as cash gift.

Budget Circular No. 2010-1 spells out the guidelines for the grant of year-end bo-nus (YEB) and cash gift. The circular allows local government units, government finan-cial institutions (GFIs), and government owned and/or controlled corporations (GOCCs) to "source the payment for these benefits from their respective local or corporate funds."

Under the circular, the qualified elective or appointive barangay officials and em-ployees are also entitled to one-half of the year-end bonus and cash gift which is based on their honorarium rates and subject to the Personal Services (PS) limitation of local gov-ernment budgets. The Budget Circular also entitles a government employee to a year-end bonus that is equivalent to one month of their salary and a P5,000 cash gift.

Fifty percent of the yearend bonus and cash gifts is first given in May or June in time for the opening of classes while the second half is given starting November 15 in time for the Christmas holidays. (FREEMAN)