By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said he hopes the distribution of bonuses for provincial employees does not experience procedural lapses as it had in the past. In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, the vice governor believes the documents presented by the provincial government may be lacking, which may be disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Last month, the Provincial Legal Office filed an appeal memorandum to the COA Regional Office. In addition, the provincial government is also trying to prepare the necessary documents in order to justify the distribution of bonuses.
Back in 2015, provincial government employees received P30,000 in bonuses. The following year, the amount was upped to P35,000.
Earlier, Provincial Board Member Rommel Debulgado, who chairs the Committee on Finance, said Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado assured funds for the extra bonus will be available as it will be sourced from personnel services savings.
However, he said they are still determining the basis for providing such bonuses.
“We have the awards, which [were] received by the Human Resource Office and Organic Farming, but we are checking on its validity as a basis for giving extra bonus,” he revealed./DGB, WDJ