DBM releases P63.7 billion in midyear bonus of state workers

MANILA, Philippines —  The government started releasing a total of P63.7 billion in midyear bonuses for state workers yesterday, the Department of Budget and Management said.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reminded state agencies and offices to ensure the timely release of bonuses to their employees.

This is stipulated in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Of the amount, P48.59 billion is earmarked for civilian personnel while the remaining P16.11 billion is allotted for military and uniformed personnel.

The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month basic pay as of May 15 and will be given to government employees who have rendered at least four months since July last year.

To qualify for the midyear bonus, workers should still be in service as of today and obtain at least a satisfactory performance rating.

The bonus will be given to all positions for civilian personnel, whether regular, casual or contractual, appointive or elective and full-time or part-time.

This covers the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as constitutional commissions, state universities and colleges and government- owned or controlled corporations.

Workers in local government units are also covered.

Likewise, military and uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority are entitled to their midyear bonus.

Police personnel who are facing administrative or criminal cases still pending resolution are entitled to mid-year bonuses unless and until found guilty by final and executory judgment.

If they are found guilty, the police officers are required to refund the amount they received.

But if the penalty imposed is only a reprimand, the concerned personnel is still entitled to the bonus.– Emmanuel Tupas