Palace to gov't employees: P5,000 PEI bonus final

After teachers staged a symbolic carolling session in front of the Department of Budget Management Monday asking for an increase in their Performance Enhancement Initiative (PEI), a Palace official remained adamant that the PEI will stay at P5,000 this year. The teachers were protesting the amount, which is lower than last year’s P10,000 PEI bonus. The PEI is one of three types of bonuses that government employees receive. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda explained in his Monday briefing that the PEI’s cost is traditionally split between the national government and the government departments and agencies, with P5,000 coming from the government. The other half comes from the agencies’ “savings.” However, some agencies are unable to shell out the required amount, and the government has shouldered the additional P5,000. “Ang nangyari po doon talagang P5,000 lang ‘yon. Ang additional P5,000 ‘non talaga, kargo ‘yon ‘nung agency. Ang ginawa last year, inako po ng national government ‘yung additional P5,000. Pero ang binibigay talaga po ng government is P5,000,” Lacierda said.   However, Lacierda assured teachers and other government employees that they will still receive their 13th month pay, as well as the new Performance Based Bonus (PBB), which will be distributed early 2013. “Now, at least may 13th month pay; may mga ibang bonuses pa silang matatanggap. ‘Yung performance-based bonus naman po that will come after Christmas. So ‘pag ubos na ‘yung pera ninyo ‘nung Pasko sa kakabigay ng aginaldo, at least there is something to look forward to after Christmas,” Lacierda said.   Lacierda reminded government employees, however, that the PBB will be merit-based, and thus will not be equal for all. “[The PBB] is a merit-based bonus. So I’m sure kung kayo naman ay maganda ang inyong trabaho, we see no reason why you will not be able to receive your performance-based bonus," he said. — BM, GMA News