Capitol employees still hoping for bonus

CEBU, Philippines - Capitol employees are still hoping that they will receive additional Christmas bonus.

This after provincial budget officer Danilo Rodas has said that the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), which has been interpreted by many as the Christmas bonus, was already released to the employees in July.

“Magyawyaw man gali mi’g delay ang suweldo, kana na bang wala ‘mi extra (incentive) unya puhon,” said a maintenance worker who refused to be named. He has been working in the Capitol for 15 years.

He said he is hoping for the bonus and if ever he receives it, he would buy gifts for his children and pay his debts.

Ceterino Panlinan, another staff at the Capitol, confirmed that they received cash incentive the previous month.

“Nakadawat na man ‘mi atong incentive nila pero mas nindot gyud unta ‘to if naa pa’y lain,’’ he said.

The incentive was granted after the province obtained the Good Financial Housekeeping award last year.

“Naa’y ihatag namo bisan pila basta kinasing-kasing. Maghuwat lang mi if naa’y ihatag. Dili man mi makabuot nila,” another Capitol worker told The FREEMAN.

The PEI is usually released by the end of the year but the Capitol gave out the incentives earlier following the issuance of the Executive Order 181 signed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in May 15. The order provided that the PEI should not be given earlier than June 1.

The Provincial Board approved a total of P32 million for the PEI which was released to over 1,500 employees. Capitol employees who rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service as of May 31 were entitled to the one-time grant of the PEI which is equivalent to their one month basic salary.

Local government units or agencies that were unable to comply with the required Good Financial Housekeeping were only allowed to grant a fixed amount of P5,000 as PEI to qualified employees.

Since the Capitol was conferred the award in 2014, all qualified provincial workers were given one-month salary.

The other incentives, like the 13th month pay and P5,000 cash gift were already distributed in May and November.

“Kaguol sad og wala na,” says a Public Service Employment Officer. — Friensy G. Larawan, USJ-R Intern/NSA (FREEMAN)