PRESIDENT Duterte has approved the grant of a one-time P10,000 service recognition incentive (SRI) for government employees who contributed to the administration’s efforts to bring better service to the people.
The President, on December 2, signed Administrative Order No. 19 which grants the P10,000 bonus “not earlier than 20 December 2019.”
“Government employees deserve to be rewarded to recognize their collective and unceasing participation in and invaluable contribution to the administration’s continuing efforts toward the establishment of streamlined government processes and more responsive delivery of public services,” the AO said.
A supplemental guideline shall be issued by the Department of Budget and Management which recommended the incentive.
There are 1,728,641 government employees based on the records of the Civil Service Commission.
The SRI is separate from the usual Christmas bonus that the government gives out, depending on the availability of their savings.
The grant of the SRI came at the heels of the P60,000 Christmas bonus that the President approved for the members of the Office of the President.
AO 19 said the grant of the SRI is in line with the implementation of Joint Resolution 4 of June 17, 2009, which authorizes the grant of incentives to reward an employee’s loyalty to government service, among others.
The SRI shall be given to workers in national government agencies, including those in state universities and colleges and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), who occupy “regular, contractual, or casual positions.”
It shall also be given to members of the Armed Forces, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Bureau of Corrections, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.
Employees who are “contractual or casual” should still be in the government service as of Nov. 30, 2019 to qualify. Employees who have rendered less than four months will be entitled to a 40 percent pro-rated share of the SRI; those who have been working for less than three months will get a 30 percent pro-rated share; those in government for less than two months will get 20 percent; and those working in government for one month will get 10 percent.
AO 19 excludes consultants and experts, laborers, student workers and apprentices, and individuals and groups whose services are engaged through job orders, contracts of service, and other similar work schemes.
Employees at the Senate, House of Representatives, judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman. and other constitutional offices may also be granted a one-time SRI by their respective office heads at a uniform rate not exceeding P10,000 each, which will be charged to their respective agencies’ available released allotment.
Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he has recommended to the President the grant of P3,000 per barangay official to show the government’s appreciation for their hard work, pending passage of a measure providing them additional compensation.
He said the President has responded positively and is looking for funds to give to barangay chairmen and council men, Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen, and Indigenous People’s representatives.
There are 42,045 barangays nationwide. — With Raymond Africa
