ILOILO – More than 2,000 regular employees of the Iloilo provincial government are set to receive a P30,000 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) fast-tracked the approval of Supplemental Budget No. 3, mirroring the province’s strong fiscal position and its push to reward government workers before the year ends.
The budget measure, totaling P64,583,400, was passed during the SP’s regular session on Tuesday, December 9. Of this amount, P46.65 million will come from the General Fund while P17.93 million will come from the Local Economic Enterprise. The CNA bonus is drawn from savings under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
“Malipayon gid ang aga, ilabi na para sa aton mga empleyado sa Kapitolyo, matapos aprubahan sang 15th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) ang ila Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentive bonus kahapon,” Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday, December 10.
Debuque said the swift legislative approval responded to the urgent request from Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s office.
The passage of Supplemental Budget No. 3 came just a week after the SP also approved Supplemental Budget No. 2, amounting to P101,488,235.64, which includes P29.7 million for the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) of regular capitol employees and P8.2 million for economic enterprises.
For job order and contract-of-service workers, Debuque said the provincial government is still waiting for national guidelines on gratuity pay.
“Even with these swift approvals though, we in the 15th SP remain firmly guided by responsive governance and fiscal prudence, ensuring that every peso is used wisely, responsibly, and always for the benefit of the Ilonggos, especially our dedicated employees,” she added.
Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE) president Ma. Airis Penetrante said staff members are grateful for receiving the maximum CNA incentive, noting its significance for holiday celebrations.
She said the CNA and PBB bonuses will be released after Dec. 15.
“This is an incentive for all government employees for their hard work and dedication as public servants,” Penetrante said, as she thanked the SP led by Debuque and Gov. Defensor for approving the necessary budget measures./PN
