By CESAR JOLITO III

The Negros Occidental provincial government is expediting the release of the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for its employees, even as it works to overturn a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ruling that downgraded its bonus tier over a technical compliance lapse.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said a supplemental budget is now being readied to ensure qualified regular and casual employees receive 50 percent of their basic monthly salary as PBB before the end of the year.

However, Diaz confirmed that the province lost eligibility for the full 65 percent maximum bonus after the DILG flagged the absence of a required Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Certificate — a prerequisite for the top-tier PBB.

“We were compliant with the Seal of Good Local Governance [SGLG], which already includes ARTA-aligned reforms. Unfortunately, the separate ARTA certification was overlooked,” Diaz explained.

“We’re appealing to the DILG to reconsider. Our employees deserve full recognition for their hard work,” he added.

Negros Occidental was among the 2023 SGLG awardees, a recognition that measures performance in transparency, financial stewardship, disaster readiness, and efficient public service delivery. Provincial officials argue that their SGLG compliance should already reflect adherence to ARTA standards, particularly in streamlining business and permit processes.

To prevent delays, the provincial finance cluster convened an emergency meeting earlier this week to finalize the budget proposal, which will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on November 6.

The measure is expected to cost tens of millions of pesos, benefiting employees across all departments, including public works, agriculture and health services.

Diaz said waiting for the appeal resolution — likely by early 2026 — would unfairly deprive employees of much-needed year-end funds.

“We don’t want our workers to wait another year. Many rely on this bonus for tuition, hospital bills or Christmas expenses,” he said.

The province has since compiled documentation proving its compliance with ARTA principles, including a 30 percent reduction in business permit processing times recorded last year.

Diaz expressed optimism that the DILG would consider their appeal favorably, noting that Negros Occidental’s consistent good governance track record reflects its “commitment to reform, not red tape.”/CJ, WDJ