Duterte OKs incentives of up to P10k for gov’t employees amid COVID-19 pandemic

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of a one-time service recognition incentive of up to P10,000 to government employees.

Duterte said state workers deserved to be rewarded for their contributions to the administration’s objective of establishing “streamlined government processes and more responsive delivery of public services,” especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to his Administrative Order 37.

The payment of the service recognition incentive shall not be earlier than December 21.

Signed on December 18, the order covers civilian personnel, the military and other uniformed personnel.

The employees should occupy regular, contractual or casual positions, still in the government service as of November 30 and have rendered at least four months of service as of November 30.

The order added the employees should have not received any additional year-end benefit in 2020 over and above what is authorized under Republic Act 6686.

Employees who have rendered less than four months of service as of November 30 will be entitled to a pro-rated share of the incentive.

Excluded are consultants and experts engaged for a limited period to perform specific activities, laborers engaged through job contracts, those paid on a piecework basis and student workers and apprentices.

Individuals and groups of people whose services are engaged through job orders and contracts of service are also not entitled to the incentive. -NB, GMA News