Capitol Employees Anticipate Bigger Christmas Bonus

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The president of the Negros Occidental provincial employees’ union expressed optimism about an increase in this year’s Christmas bonus.

Randy Peacita, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), said Thursday that Capitol employees received a total of PHP 55,000 in bonuses last year, which included the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive.

“We’re hopeful it will be higher this year,” Peacita said.

He confirmed that the PHP 30,000 CNA bonus is assured for Capitol employees.

However, he said additional bonuses will be announced by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson during the provincial government’s Christmas party.

Regarding the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), Peacita said funds are available, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has not issued the necessary guidelines.

“The province cannot release the funds yet because they might be required to return them if guidelines are not followed,” he explained.

Earlier, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government is considering releasing the PBB for 2022 and 2023 before the end of the year.

Diaz made the statement after Negros Occidental was named one of 62 local government units in Western Visayas to receive the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for 2024.

Diaz explained that the 2022 PBB was not released last year due to a lack of guidelines from the DBM.

The SGLG is the DILG’s highest recognition for local government units that excel in governance and comply with national laws and guidelines.

Diaz said that as the year ends, the provincial government is ensuring it meets all parameters for next year’s evaluation to secure the SGLG for a third consecutive year.

He added that the SGLG is one of the criteria for granting additional bonuses to Capitol employees.

The PBB is equivalent to 60 percent of an employee’s salary, according to Diaz.

“We’ve been asking the DILG to follow up with the Department of Finance for the issuance of guidelines and a joint memorandum circular, as these are necessary for the release of the 2022 and 2023 PBBs,” Diaz said.

“The employees are asking for what is due to them for doing their jobs well,” he added.