By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government yesterday said that not only the regular and casual employees will have a “Merry Christmas” but also the employees classified as job orders (JOs) and under contract of service who will also receive their gratuity pay worth P3,000.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz Diaz said there are legal prohibitions that disqualify the JOs to receive additional benefits.

“If we are allowed by law, why not,” Diaz pointed out, adding the law only allows gratuity pay for JOs.

He said the provincial government has ready funds and ready to release the gratuity pay.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved an P83.2 million supplemental budget last Tuesday, P78 million of which will go to the additional bonuses of the provincial government employees.

On Monday night, December 13, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced that the 3,400 Negros Occidental provincial government employees will receive an additional bonus totaling P65,000 each.

The additional bonus is composed of P25,000 as Collective Negotiation Agreement Bonus;  P25,000 as Incentive Benefit for Exemplary Service; P5,000 for Performance Based Incentive; and P10,000 as Service Recognition Incentive.

“The CNA, IBES and PBI will all be released next week,” Diaz said. “We are waiting for an authority from the Department of Budget and Management to release the remaining SRI.”

The payroll is also now being fast tracked so that it can be released to the capitol employees before Christmas day, he added./DGB, WDJ