NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1G2T
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*22 DEC 14 P5 f40
RtCEiVED B\
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.
AN ACT
PROVIDING 13th month PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTUAL AND JOB
ORDER PERSONNEL
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Ensuring the welfare of government workers is a vital component of nation­
building. The State shall ensure the promotion of their rights and welfare and the 
faithful performance of their duties and functions, through the recognition of their 
rights as civil servants and the provision of remuneration, benefits, allowances and 
other entitlements commensurate to the service they render to the country.
Contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) personnel play a vital role in 
government service. They perform their duties and responsibilities as diligently and as 
faithfully as those with plantilla positions in government, but they do not receive the 
same benefits, allowances and other entitlements. A lot of these JOCOS personnel 
have been in service to the government for years, it is often said that the Government 
is the top 'endo' violator.
The 13th month pay is a form of monetary benefit equivalent to the monthly 
basic compensation received by an employee, computed pro-rata according to the 
number of months within a year that the employee has rendered service to the 
employer. The 13th Month Pay is made official and mandatory by PD 851, a decree 
that was passed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1976. The decree states 
that employers are required to provide their employees a 13th Month Pay before the
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24th of December of every year, after meeting certain requirements. The government 
and any of its political subdivision, including government-owned and controlled 
corporations, except those corporations operating essentially as private subsidiaries of 
the government, are exempted to pay the 13th month benefit under PD 851. However 
in lieu of the 13th Month Pay, employees of the government get a year-end bonus 
equivalent to an employee's one month basic pay.
According to the Inventory of Government Human Resources as of June 30, 
2022, there are a total of 2,462,534 workers in the government and 642,077 or 
roughly 26% of the total government workforce is comprised of Job Order and 
Contract of Service (JOCOS) personnel.
Amid the rising prices of oil and basic commodities, government workers are 
expected to be responsive, to prioritize their public duties at all times, and to make 
necessary sacrifices in the exigency of service, particularly during times of crisis and 
disaster. The 13th Month pay will augment the earnings of our JOCOS as a major 
source of additional funding to be able to afford basic commodities during Christmas 
season, a well-deserved reward for them.
In view of the foregoing circumstances, the immediate passage of this bill Is 
earnestly sought.
RAMON/BONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 162T
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o( tlie.%(C Ttiu?
*22 DEC 14 P5 -40
Rl:CEil-:OBV.,
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.
AN ACT
PROVIDING 13th month PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTUAL AND JOB
ORDER PERSONNEL
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "13th Month Pay Law 
for Contractual and Job Order Personnel. "
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
ensure the welfare of government workers and recognize their role as a vital 
component of nation-building, regardless of their status of employment. The State 
shall ensure the promotion of their rights and welfare and the faithful performance of 
their duties and functions, through the recognition of their rights as civil servants and 
the provision of remuneration, benefits, allowances and other entitlements 
commensurate to the service they render to the country.
Sec. 3. Coverage. -This Act shall cover all government employees, regardless 
of their employment status, contractual or job order personnel: Provided, That they 
have completed at least one contract (minimum of three months) with the government 
before July 1 of the current fiscal year, prior to the granting of the 13th Month Pay.


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Sec. 4. Mandatory Payment of 13th Month Pay. - All government employees 
regardless of their employment status, contractual or job order personnel, shall be 
entitled to 13th month pay every year.
Sec. 5. Minimum Amount - The minimum amount of the 13th-month pay for 
contractual and job order personnel shall not be less than one-half of the monthly 
salary of the employee based on the current contract with the government.
Sec. 6. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days 
from the enactment of this law, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 
shall promulgate the guidelines for this Act.
Sec. 7. Separabiiity Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved.