The Negros Occidental provincial government employees’ bonuses this December are expected to be lower than last year.
That is because the Commission on Audit has disallowed the provincial government from granting the Incentive Benefit for Exemplary Services (IBES).
The provincial government will only grant bonuses that it is allowed to give, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, November 16.
“We will stop the policy of giving what we know will be denied at the end of day,” he said, pointing out that they have never won an appeal to the COA ruling.
The denied amounts will have to be deducted from the employees retirement fund, he said.
If the COA eventually allows the granting of the IBES, the provincial government will continue to give it to its employees, Lacson said.
The total bonus of each Capitol employee last year was P65,000 with P25,000 allocated under the IBES, P25,000 – Collective Negotiation Agreement, P5,000 – Productivity Enhancement Incentive and P10,000 – Service Recognition Benefit.*