Starting the middle of May, government personnel will receive their midyear bonuses equivalent to one month basic salary, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Budget Circular 2016-3, which provides the rules and regulations on the grant of said bonus states that the Mid-Year Bonus shall be given not earlier than May 15, 2017, in accordance with EO 201.
To be entitled, an employee must have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of 4 months of service from July 1, 2016 to May 15, 2017, obtained at least a satisfactory performance rating in the immediately preceding period, and should still be in the service as of May 15. Those with less than four months of service, or those that are no longer in the service as of May 15, shall not be entitled to the bonus.
For government employees who have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service, but have not yet received a performance rating by their respective agencies, the DBM urged agencies to conduct a performance evaluation of these personnel for the grant of mid-year bonus.
“According to Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2012, a performance evaluation shall be regularly conducted by all agencies twice a year or once every semester following the guidelines prescribed by the Civil Service Commission. However, if the organizational needs of the agency concerned require a shorter or longer period, the minimum evaluation period shall be at least 90 days or three months,” the DBM said in a statement.
Eight in every 10 civilian personnel will receive their mid-year bonus in full, or tax-free under Republic Act 10653, which provides that gross benefits such as the 13th month pay and other benefits not exceeding P82,000 shall be tax exempt.
These means the majority of civilian personnel will take home their mid-year bonus in full. They are the 970,943 civilian employees belonging to Salary Grades 1 to 16.
For GOCCs, the governing board shall determine the grant of the bonus charged against approved corporate operating budgets. If funds are insufficient, they may grant at lower rates but at uniform percentage of the basic monthly salary as of May 15.
For LGUs, the Sanggunian shall determine the grant of the bonus charged against, and subject to the Personnel Services limitation in, LGU budgets. They may also grant at lower rates but at uniform percentage of the basic monthly salary as of May 15, if funds are insufficient.
RequirementsPlease take note also of Item No. 5.0 Guidelines on the Grant of the Mid-Year Bonus of DBM Budget Circular No. 2016-3, to wit;
5.1 The Mid-Year Bonus equivalent to one (1) month basic pay as of May 15 shall be given to entitled personnel not earlier than May 15 of the current year, subject to the following conditions:
5.1.1 Personnel has rendered at least a total or aggregate of four (4) months of service from July 1 of the immediately preceding year to May 15 of the current year; (meaning total or aggregate of four (4) months of service from July 1, 2016 to May 15, 2017)
5.1.2 Personnel remains to be in the government service as of May 15 of the current year; (meaning, if they are not in the service as of May 15, 2017 due to retirement, resignation, or if the employee is deceased earlier than May 15, 2017, they are not entitled to Mid-Year Bonus) and
5.1.3 Personnel has received at least a satisfactory performance rating in the immediately preceding rating period.An employee must accomplish the following requirements to avail of the mid-year bonus:
- Rendered at least a total or an aggregate of 4 months of service from July 1, 2015 to May 15, 2016
- Obtained at least a satisfactory performance rating in the immediately preceding period
- Should still be in the service as of May 15
- Those with less than 4 months of service, or those that are no longer in the service as of May 15, shall not be entitled to the bonus, DBM said.
The budget department also urged agencies to conduct performance evaluation for government employees who have rendered at least 4 months of service but have yet to receive performance rating, so they can be granted the mid-year bonus.
SOURCE:
DBM
