Government agencies have been directed to release the 2026 year-end bonus and P5,000 cash gift to qualified employees alongside their first November salary, with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allocating nearly P83 billion for the benefits.
The DBM said P82.998 billion has been set aside for civilian employees and military and uniformed personnel across government.
Of the total allocation, P73.449 billion will cover the year-end bonus, while P9.549 billion will fund the P5,000 cash gift.
Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said the DBM had already released the funds to the concerned agencies and urged them to follow the prescribed payment schedule.
Under DBM Budget Circular 2024-3, dated Oct. 22, 2024, qualified government workers are entitled to a year-end bonus equivalent to one month of their basic salary as of Oct. 31, 2026, in addition to the P5,000 cash gift.
“Ang year-end bonus po ng mga government employees na katumbas ng one-month basic salary, kasama ang P5,000 Cash Gift, ay dapat matanggap kasabay ng first salary for November,” De Leon said.
He said the benefits would provide additional financial support to government employees and their families ahead of the Christmas season.
De Leon also described the payments as recognition of government workers’ contributions and continued service to the public.
To receive the full benefits, employees must have completed at least four months or 120 days of aggregate government service from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2026, and must still be employed in government as of Oct. 31.
The DBM said qualifying service covers work in regular, contractual or casual positions in national and local government offices. Authorized leaves of absence with pay also count toward the required service period.
The actual payment date may vary depending on each agency’s payroll schedule, provided that both benefits are released with its first November payroll.
The department reiterated that the timely payment of the year-end bonus and cash gift is required under existing government compensation policies.
📷 Media courtesy of Landbank
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