Gov't employees to receive cash gift, year-end bonus

State workers will get a cash gift and a year-end bonus beginning this month, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday.

The Department of Budget and Management has earmarked P6.93 billion for the cash gifts and P32.84 billion for the year-end bonuses under the 2017 budget.

"Starting November 15, all qualified government employees will receive year-end bonus tax free that is equivalent to their one month basic salary," Diokno told reporters during a breakfast forum in Pasig City.

Apart from the year-end bonus, each state worker will also get a P5,000 cash gift.

The Budget chief  clarified that the release of bonuses and cash gifts will actually start on November 16 as the 15th is a non-working day in light of the 31st ASEAN Summit.

Eligible to receive the bonus and cash gift are government personnel who have rendered at least four months of service, including leaves of absence with pay from January 1 to October 31, and are still employed as of October 31.

The bonuses and cash gifts are subject to the guidelines issued by the Department of Budget and Management and Budget Circular No. 2016-4, Diokno said. —
VDS, GMA News