DBM: Release of 2022, 2023 performance-based bonuses to proceed

MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified on Wednesday that the release of the 2022 and 2023 performance-based bonuses (PBB) will proceed despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to review and overhaul the government's evaluation and incentives schemes.

Marcos earlier issued Executive Order No. 61, suspending the implementation of the Results-Based Performance Management (RBPM) and Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) systems.

According to the DBM, the President's EO only seeks to review the bonus schemes to harmonize and streamline the process.

"We wish to emphasize that the release of the 2022 and 2023 performance-based incentives to qualified government workers in the government will proceed," the DBM said in a statement.

"The EO only seeks to review the Results-Based Performance Management and Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) systems of the government in order to harmonize, streamline and make the process of releasing personnel incentives more efficient and timely," it added.

According to the DBM, possible refinements may be made for the more efficient and streamlined release of the 2023 PBB under the EO.

The issuance of the 2024 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) will also proceed as the DBM has already "comprehensively released" to government agencies the budget allocation for the annual bonus.

"Meanwhile, the FY 2025 PEI shall also be included in the National Expenditure Program," the DBM noted.

PEI is an across-the-board P5,000 incentive given to qualified government workers before Dec. 15 every year.

"The President's EO, which was issued on 03 June 2024, gives importance to ease of doing business even in the RBPMS and PBI System, as they are deemed redundant and duplicative with the internal and external performance audit and evaluation systems of the government," the statement read.

"The President seeks to reform the government performance evaluation process and incentives system towards a more responsive, efficient, agile, and competent bureaucracy," it added. (PNA)