By CESAR JOLITO III

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson announced that the provincial government has begun releasing year-end benefits for Capitol employees, while other incentives are on hold pending national guidelines.

Lacson said the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) is now being processed following the late issuance of guidelines from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The DILG released the guidelines only this November, so we have been slowly releasing the PBB. It depends on the department how fast they can complete the required documents,” Lacson said.

“The PBB, equivalent to 50 percent of an employee’s monthly salary, will only be given to regular and casual personnel,” he added.

Lacson said that some incentives have already been distributed, including the P5,000 cash gift that employees began receiving in November.

Payroll preparation for the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive is also set to begin after the next pay cycle.

The benefit, pegged at P30,000 per employee, will be released before the end of the year.

Lacson said the Capitol is still awaiting guidance from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI).

The province is expecting to release up to P20,000, depending on DBM’s approval.

“Actually, part of the incentives has already been released. Many employees have received their cash gift and performance bonus,” the governor said.

“For the SRI, it will depend on when DBM issues the guidelines. For the CNA, yes, we will give it before the year ends.”

The governor assured Capitol employees that all eligible benefits will be released promptly once required documents and national directives are finalized./CJ, WDJ