By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Employees of the provincial government of Negros Occidental have started receiving their 14th month bonuses.

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said they processed the employees’ 14th month bonus last week and the distribution started last Saturday.

Aside from the 14th month pay, Diaz said provincial government employees will also receive an additional P5,000 in cash as part of their Performance Enhancement Incentives.

On the issue of the additional bonuses sought by the capitol employees, Diaz said the Provincial Legal Office is already reviewing if they could release the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CAN) Bonus to them.

If approved, the issue of the CNA Bonus will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in order to give the authority to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to sign its release.

However, Diaz pointed out the release of the CNA bonus will depend if they still have savings in their maintenance and other operating expenses or the province’s MOOE.

Earlier, Lacson announced there would be no extra bonus this year, as the province realigned funds to the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, response.

However, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer later revealed that Lacson is trying to find ways to give the employees’ bonus.

Last year, capitol employees received an additional bonus of P60,000, aside from the 13th and 14th month benefits which are usually being distributed in May and November every year./DGB, WDJ