DBM: Release of performance-based bonus to proceed

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday issued a clarification on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s suspension of the Results-Based Performance  Management System (RBPMS) and Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) System.

To shed light on concerns arising from the issuance of Executive Order No. 61, the DBM said that “release of the 2022 and 2023 performance-based incentives to qualified government workers in the government will proceed.”

EO No. 61 suspended the implementation of Administrative Order No. 25 (s. 2011) and EO No. 80 (s. 2012).

AO No. 25 established a unified and integrated RBPMS across all departments and agencies within the executive branch of government.

EO 80 adopted the PBI System —which consisted of a Productivity  Enhancement Incentive (PEI) and the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) aimed at motivating higher performance, greater accountability in the public sector, and ensuring the accomplishment of government commitments and  targets.

The DBM said EO No. 60 only seeks to review the RBPM and PBI systems of the government “in order to harmonize, streamline and make the process of releasing personnel incentives more efficient and timely.”

In his latest EO, Marcos ordered a study of the RPB and PBI systems as these were deemed “duplicative” and “redundant” with the internal and external performance audit and evaluation systems of the government.”

The two systems also lacked a review mechanism leading to the accumulation of rules, regulations, and issuances from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Harmonization of National Government  Performance Monitoring, Information, and Reporting Systems.

“Under the EO, possible refinements may be made for the more efficient and streamlined release of the 2023 PBB,” the DBM said.

The Budget Department added that the budget allocation for the 2024 PEI has already been comprehensively released to agencies and shall also proceed.

“Meanwhile, the Fiscal Year 2025 PEI shall also be included in the National Expenditure Program,” the DBM said.

The agency said the President seeks to reform the government performance evaluation process and incentives system towards a more responsive, efficient, agile, and competent bureaucracy through the issuance of EO No. 60. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News