ILOILO City – More than 2,000 regular, contractual, casual, appointive, and elective officials of the Iloilo provincial government are set to each receive incentives reaching P47,000, confirmed by Ma. Airis Penetrante, president of the Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) recently approved Supplemental Budgets Number 3 and 4, earmarking funds for the employees’ Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive of P22,000, Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) of P20,000, and Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) of P5,000.
Penetrante said these incentives may seem lower compared to those in other provinces and cities due to dependency on savings. Nearly all items eligible for incentive funding were fully utilized or depleted because of service delivery, limiting the province’s savings.
Initially, the employees were slated to receive only P15,000 under the CNA Incentive. Nevertheless, through the efforts of employees, particularly those from the Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial Hospital in Guimbal, a position paper was submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), advocating for additional funds.
Supported by the Hospital Management Office (HMO), AIPGE, and Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias, the paper was forwarded to Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who then brought it to the DBM’s attention.
The DBM favored the request, allowing the use of alternative funds, thereby increasing the CNA Incentive to P22,000.
AIPGE is currently processing the necessary documents to expedite the release of incentives, with hopes that employees will receive their bonuses before Christmas.
Regarding job hires and contract of service workers, they are scheduled to receive a gratuity pay, though the amount is yet to be determined pending guidelines from the DBM. Last year, these workers received a gratuity pay of P5,000./PN
