BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The guessing game is still on as to how much bonus will be received by the Negros Occidental provincial government employees.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental has approved supplemental budget number 9 of the provincial government, in the amount of more than P58 million, that includes the bonus budget for Capitol employees, during its special session on Dec. 14.
Gov. Eugenio Lacson, who thanked Negros Occidental officials for approving the budget, yesterday said that he will announce the exact amount, several days before it will be released to Capitol employees.
The government employees can manage to wait a little while, he added.
Vice-Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who presided over the SP special session Monday, said he will leave the announcement to Lacson, although he is already aware of the exact amount. There were speculations circulating among Capitol employees that it could reach P40,000, including the Collective Negotiation Agreement incentives, the Productivity Enhancement Incentive, as well as the IBES, or Incentive Benefit for Exemplary Services.*