MANILA, Philippines - For their hard work and dedication, President Benigno Aquino III said Thursday he has authorized the release of P10,000 anniversary bonus to each employees and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Aquino made the announcement in his speech for the 115th Founding Anniversary of the DPWH, which lately was blamed for the sudden flooding in parts of Metro Manila.
"Sa isang patas pong lipunan, sinusuklian ang mabuting gawain. Kapag nagsumikap ka, may kaakibat itong karampatang balik sa iyo. Kaya naman, hindi po ako nag-atubiling lagdaan ang sampung libong Anniversary Bonus para sa bawat opisyal at kawani ng DPWH ngayong taon," the President told DPWH employees.
He said: "Malinaw po sa atin na malaki ang ginagampanang papel ng DPWH sa pagsisilbing tulay sa kaunlaran ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino."
The DPWH has 19,253 employees.
Aquino said that he is hoping the anniversary bonus would inspire DPWH employees to do more and continue their hard work and dedication.
"Magsilbi po sana itong inspirasyon upang higit pa ninyong pagbutihan ang serbisyo sa bayan sa mga darating na taon," the President said.
The DPWH boasted that from being considered as one of the most corrupt national government agencies in the past, it has become one of the most notable examples of good governance of the Aquino administration.
With the onset of the rainy season, several areas in Metro Manila were hit by floods, prompting class suspensions, particularly in the capital city.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had blamed the DPWH's 100 drainage improvement and road repair projects for the sudden flooding.
The DPWH also blamed the MMDA for the flooding.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Singson said that "years of neglect" should be blamed for the flooding in Metro Manila.
He said that the government is already implementing a masterplan to solve the flooding problem, including the clearing of the metro's sewage system from garbage and its rehabilitation and the blocking of water coming from Sierra Madre.