By CESAR JOLITO III

Negros Occidental provincial government employees are set to receive multiple bonuses before November ends, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz confirmed.

Diaz said regular and casual Capitol employees will be granted their Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), yearend bonus and a P5,000 cash gift shortly within this month.

He explained that the PBB is equivalent to 50 percent of an employee’s monthly basic salary, while the yearend bonus is equivalent to one month’s pay.

The early release aims to help workers recover from the financial strain brought by recent typhoon damage and prepare for the holiday season.

“This will benefit Capitol employees who were affected by the recent typhoon for their usual needs such as health and education,” Diaz said.

The PBB, established by the Department of Budget and Management, is a merit-based incentive program that rewards government workers based on performance and good governance standards.

‘Too early to tell’ 

When asked if Capitol employees can expect an extra bonus this December, Diaz said it was “too early to tell,” noting that any such announcement would come from Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Traditionally, Lacson reveals the additional Christmas bonus during his birthday celebration and the Capitol Christmas party on December 13.

Last year, provincial government employees received an extra P55,000 cash bonus, a gesture that Diaz said “motivated workers and boosted morale.”

Meanwhile, Diaz also reported that Negros Occidental health workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic finally received their Health Emergency Allowance from the national government on November 12.

He expressed gratitude to Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral for facilitating the release, emphasizing that the long-awaited allowance recognizes the sacrifices of frontline health workers during the pandemic./CJ, WDJ