THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) approved the P230 million supplemental budget that includes the P20 million allocation for the P15,000 across-the-board cash incentive for both regular and casual employees of the provincial government.
The cash incentive was given to employees as reward for helping the province achieve the third most competitive distinction cited by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
Luis Serefin, who’s been working at the Governor’s Office for nearly three years, said the P15,000 cash incentive is enough to pay off his debts and buy something for noche buena (Christmas feast) for his family.
Dominic Castroverde, Capitol’s payroll officer-in-charge, said the bonus is not taxable if the employee received an amount below P80,000 for the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), 13th month pay and Christmas bonus.
This year, Capitol workers received their PEI equivalent to one-month’s salary.
The one-time bonus authorized nationwide to government workers by President Aquino was released last July for Capitol employees.