Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. 10200
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROVIDING 13th MONTH PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACT OF SERVICE/JOB
ORDER PERSONNEL
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, Contract of Service (COS) or Job Order (JO) employees are often hired by
government agencies to perform specific tasks or projects for a limited duration. These
employees are typically not regular or permanent employees of the government and are
engaged on a contractual basis.
According to Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2020, dated 20 October 2020, of the Commission on
Audit and Department of Budget and Management, “contract of service” has been referred
to as the engagement of the services of an individual, private firm, other government agency,
non-governmental agency or international organization as consultant, learning service
provider or technical expert to undertake special project or job within a specific period.
Meanwhile, “job order” was referred to as intermittent or emergency jobs such as clearing of
debris on the roads, canals, waterways, etc. after natural/ man-made disasters/occurrences,
and other manual/trades and crafts services such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and the
like.
Contract of Service or Job Order arrangements are commonly used by government agencies
to address short-term staffing needs, temporary projects, or workload fluctuations.
However, they have been a subject of scrutiny and criticism due to concerns about job
security and lack of benefits.
It must be reiterated that COS and JO are only entitled to benefits such as premium of up to
20% of their salary or wage1 and gratuity pay2. Other than those, COS or JO employees are
yet to be afforded with adequate protections and benefits, including the possibility of
regularization.
Thus, to at least give back to the hardwork and dedication of COS and JO employees, this
measure proposes that they be granted with 13th Month Pay every year.
HON. MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS
Representative, 3rd District of Cotabato
1 Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2017, dated 15 June 2017, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, and
Department of Budget and Management
2 Administrative Order No. 13, s. 2023
March 20, 2024
3:06 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session
House Bill No. 10200
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROVIDING 13th MONTH PAY TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACT OF SERVICE/JOB
ORDER PERSONNEL
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “13th Month Pay Law for
Contractual and Job Order Personnel.”
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State affirms labor as a primary and social economic
force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare, regardless of their
status of employment.
Section 3. Coverage. – This Act shall cover all government employees with contract of
service or job order status regardless of period of engagement.
Section 4. Definitions. – The following terms as used in this Act shall have the following
meaning:
a.
Contract of Service/Job Order – refers to the engagement of the services of a
person, private firm nongovernmental agency or international organization to
undertake a specific work or job requiring special or technical skills not
available in the agency to be accomplished within a specific period not
exceeding one (1) year. The person engaged performs or accomplishes the
specific work or job under his own responsibility and with minimum
supervision by the hiring agency. For purposes of this issuance, contract of
services shall include the hiring of consultants and personnel engaged to
perform work for special projects whether funded by the agency itself or
externally funded.3
b. Job Order - refers to the hiring of a worker for piece work or intermittent job of
short duration not exceeding six months and pay is on a daily or hourly basis. It
is to be understood that the piece work or job to be performed requires special
or technical skills not available in the agency and the same is to be accomplished
under the worker’s own responsibility and with minimum supervision by the
hiring agency.4
3 Civil Service Commission Resolution No. 021480 Re: Clarifications on Policy Guidelines for Contracts of
Services dated 12 November 2002
4 Ibid


c.
13th Month Pay - shall mean one twelfth (1/12) of the basic salary of an
employee within a calendar year Clarifications on Policy Guidelines for
Contracts of Services,
Section 5. 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.
Section 6. 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 by
the employee based on his/her current contract with the government.
Section 7. Implementing Rules. - Within sixty (60) days from the enactment of this law, the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall promulgate the guidelines for this Act.
Section 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.
Section 9. Repealing Clause. –Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Act
is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved