• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) yesterday welcomed the announcement of Malacañang to grant service recognition incentives (SRI) for government employees, as well as gratuity pay for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers.
Engr. Ruben Diamante, PACE president, however, said they will wait for a formal announcement from Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on his birthday today, which also coincides with the Christmas party of Capitol employees and the switch on ceremony of Christmas lights and decorations at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City.
At least we now have the basis for the granting of SRI, which they have been waiting to be announced, Diamante said.
Gov. Lacson announced earlier that the provincial government may give as much as P30,000 for the Collective Negotiation Agreement and P5,000 for Productivity Enhancement Incentive to each Capitol regular and casual employee, including elected officials.
The payment of SRI to all qualified government personnel should be given not earlier than December 15, according to Malacañang.
Government workers under the Contract of Service and Job Order schemes are also expected to receive a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000.
Regular and casual employees of the provincial government are expecting to receive P55,000 additional bonuses on top of the mid-year bonus and 14th month pay they received this year.*
