LGU workers to get mid-year bonus

MANILA, Philippines – Personnel of local government units (LGUs) will receive the mid-year bonus granted by President Aquino, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has clarified.

 “As authorized under Executive Order (EO) 201, the mid-year bonus shall also be given to LGU personnel not earlier than May 15,” Abad said yesterday.

He issued the clarification amid inquiries from LGU employees.

Abad said the legislative assemblies of provinces, cities and towns are authorized to appropriate the needed funds.

“We encourage the timely release of funds so that all government employees, national and local, can benefit from the bonus to which they are entitled,” he said.

The mid-year bonus is equivalent to one month’s salary.

Aside from the 1.5 million employees of the national government and hundreds of thousands of LGU workers, personnel of government-owned and controlled corporations are also covered by the incentive.

Aquino issued Executive Order 201 on Feb. 19 to fulfill a promise to increase government salaries after Congress failed to pass the proposed Salary Standardization Law.

Aside from the mid-year bonus, EO 201 authorizes the grant of performance incentives equivalent to two months salary.