AN en banc decision of the Commission on Audit (COA) released last week reinstated 142 notices of disallowance (ND) issued against the payment of excessive cash bonuses to personnel of the provincial government of Batangas in 2014.
However, the Commission reduced the amounts that the officials and employees of the province were required to refund by P5,000 – the threshold amount set by the Office of the President under Executive Order No. 80, which rationalized the incentive system for government employees.
This means that any amount over P5,000 received by a provincial government employee must be repaid to the LGU’s coffers.
“Consequently, the ND is sustained equivalent to the amount in excess of P5,000 given to each employee. The obligation to refund the excess payment received falls upon both those directly responsible, such as the approving officers and those who actually received the disallowed benefit,” the COA said.
Records showed that on December 3, 2014, the Provincial Special Ordinance No. SO-002 Year 2014 was passed, granting “additional year-end bonuses (AYEB)” to officials and employees of Batangas province taken from savings under the Personal Services.
Elected and regular personnel receiving monthly salaries of P15,000 or higher received bonuses equivalent to their basic pay.
Those who received lower than the P15,000 pay bracket were each given a bonus of P15,000, while casual employees were each given P10,000.
