Despite fiscal woes, PNoy OKs Xmas bonus for govt workers
Despite its fiscal problems, the new administration found the means to add cheer to millions of government workers this holiday season. On top of the 13th month pay and cash gift they received or will receive for Christmas, they are also set to get an extra cash bonus that can amount to as much as P10,000. President Benigno Aquino III has signed Administrative Order No. 3 granting government workers a productivity enhancement incentive not exceeding P10,000. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified that so far, only employees from the government's executive branch are sure to receive P10,000, while the amount that other government workers will receive will depend on the savings of their respective agencies. "Ang iniutos ng pangulo na pwedeng ibigay ay hindi lalagpas ng P10,000. Ang P7,000 rito, magmumula sa pooled savings ng national government, na ang magre-release at magbabahagi ay ang DBM. 'Yung natitira, P3,000, ay manggagaling sa mga ahensya," said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in an interview over GMA News' 24 Oras. (What the President ordered cannot exceed P10,000. Of this, P7,000 will come from the government's pooled savings which will be released by the DBM. The rest will come from the agencies.)