State workers to get 13th month pay on time

MANILA, Philippines - Government employees may start Christmas shopping this week as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is set to release the remaining half of their 13th month pay this week and P5,000 cash gift before Christmas.

Under Budget Circular 2010-1 issued in August 2010, government personnel are entitled to a yearend bonus and a cash gift of P5,000, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

Government employees received the first half of their 13th month pay and cash gift last May. The first half of the bonus and cash gift can only be given not earlier than May 1 and the remaining half not earlier than Nov. 15.

“It’s only proper that their efforts and hard work are given fair recognition. The yearend bonus and extra cash should help them prepare for the holiday season and its demands,” Abad said.

The budget circular covers civilian and uniformed personnel of all government departments and agencies, including regular coterminous employees in government.  

The funds for the bonuses and cash gifts for national government agencies are sourced from the 2014 national budget.