Quezon City

Seventeenth Congres
First Regular Session| REO'STRATION UNIT

8306p BLS Ax INDEX Ml

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY ABS PARTYLIST CONG. EUGENE MICHAEL B, DE VERA

‘PLANATORY NOTE

On December 14, 1988 Congress enacted into law Republic Act No. 6686 entitled as
“AN ACT AUTHORIZING ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BONUS TO NATIONAL AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES STARTING CY 1988.”

It provided for a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month basic salary and additional
cash gift of One Thousand Pesos for each government worker who have rendered at least four
months of service from January 1 to October 31 of the same year

On December 22, 1997, almost a decade from passing the afore-cited statute,
Congress likewise legislated Republic Act 8441 entitled “AN ACT INCREASING THE
CASH GIFT TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P 5,000.00) AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIX THOUSAND
SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

It gradually increased the cash gift from One Thousand Pesos to Five Thousand Pesos
in staggered basis, Two Thousand Pesos for the Christmas 1997, Three Thousand Pesos for
the Christmas year 1998, Five Thousand Pesos for the Christmas 1999 and thereafter.
Further, cash gift payments were granted in accordance on length of service of cach
‘government worker based on a graduated scale.

On June 17, 2009 the Senate and the House of Representatives approved Joint
Resolution No. 4 to wit:

“To authorize the President of the Philippines to modify the existing Compensation
and Position Classification System of civilian personnel and Base Pay Schedule of military
and uniformed personnel and to initially implement the same effective July 1, 2009, and in
the case of local government units (LGUs) to take effect January 1, 2010.”

It increased the monthly basic pay of all government workers in staggered basis
within a period of four consecutive years

Inasmuch as monthly basic salary of each public servant has been augmented, a
corresponding cash gift increase from P 5,000.00 to P 10,000.00 as Christmas bonus is
wanting for every civil servant. It tends to recognize the exemplary service of each servant,
Christmas rejoicing and the idea that the State truly cares for state workers down to the local
government officials and employees.


Estimated government personnel stands at around 1,300,000 including the military and
police. Around 800,000 employees from the 2nd and 3rd levels belong to the
professionals/technical group. While the rest from the Ist level, co-terminous employees,
casual, contractual and elective officials.

‘The Christmas bonus law was passed in 1988, Today, more than twenty five years
since then, and after some amendments in 1997, a revitalized Christmas bonus law is needed

to dynamically respond to the present times,

EUGENE MICHAEL B. DE VERA
Representative, ABS Partylist

Passage of this bill is earnestly and immediately sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

nouse BILL No._ 3062

INTRODUCED BY ABS PARTYLIST CONG. EUGENE MICHAEL B, DE VERA

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 1, 2,3, 4, AND 5 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO, 6686, AS
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8441, IMPOSING NEW PROVISIONS IN TH
GRANT OF CHRISTMAS BONUS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND

EMPLOYEES AND INCREASING THE CASH GIFT FROM FIVE THOUSAND

PESOS (Php5,000.00) TO TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php10,000.00) STARTING

CALENDAR YEAR TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN (2016) AND THEREAFTER,

WITH AUTOMATIC INCREASE OF FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php5,000.00)

EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1 Section 1 of Republic Act No. 6686 as amended is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“Section. 1. All officials and employees of the National Government
who have rendered at least four months of service fom January 1 to October 31 each year
and who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year shall
cach receive a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month basic salary and additional cash gift
of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php10,000.00) STARTING THE CALENDAR YEAR TWO.
THOUSAND _ SIXT! (2016) AND THEREAFTER, PROVIDED THAT AN
AUTOMATIC INCREASE OF FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (Php5,000.00) BE GRANTED
EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS.”

Section 2. Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 6686 as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“Section 2, Officials and employees of the National Government who
have rendered less than four months of service from January 1 to October 31 of each year and
who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year shall be
entitled to the following percentage of ONE MONTH BASIC SALARY AND CASH GIFT:

3 months but less than 4 months 40%
2 months but less than 3 months 30%
1 month but less than 2 months 20%

Less than one month 10%


Section 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 6686, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows.

“Section 3. For CALENDAR YEAR 2016, the amount needed to
implement this Act for national officials and employees, and barangay chairmen under
Section 5 shall be taken from the 2016 appropriations for the Miscellaneous Personnel
Benefit Fund and appropriation savings and reserves authorized BY THE GENERAL
APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2016. For the succeeding years, the
‘amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.”

Section 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6686, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

“Section, 4 All officials and employees of local government units may
receive the same benefits as are provided under Section 1 and 2 of this Act chargeable against
their respective local funds. For CALENDAR YEAR 2016, local government units
(municipalities, cities and provinces) may realign their budget to give priority to the funding
requirements under this Act and any deficiency may be booked as accounts payables to be
paid on a TOP priority basis in succeeding years.”

Section 5. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 6686, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:

section 5, Barangay chairmen and councilmen shall each receive one
month honorarium and a cash gift of TEN THOUSAND PESOS (Php10,000.00) payable out
‘of the funds provided for in Section 3 hereof, This shall be implemented in accordance with
Section | and 2 of this Act.”

Section 6, All. laws, executive issuances and any rules and regulations
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed amended, repealed and
modified accordingly.

Section 7. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

(law % ob tho

EUGENE MICHAEL B, DE VERA
Representative, ABS Partylist

APPROVED.