Palace hopes PAGASA employees won't envy DPWH bonus

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is hoping that employees of the state weather bureau and other government offices will not envy the P10,000 anniversary bonus of Department and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the DPWH bonus is not unique to the said agency, which celebrated its 115th anniversary on Thursday.

"Meron po talagang instances na nagbibigay po ng what they call milestone anniversary bonuses doon po sa mga kawani," said Valte.

"Hindi naman po sana ito maging dahilan ng kanilang (government offices) inggitan," she hoped.

President Benigno Aquino III himself said DPWH employees and officials will receive a P10,000 anniversary bonus in recognition of their hard work and dedication to service,

"Sa isang patas na lipunan, sinusuklian ang mabuting gawain. Kapag nagsumikap ka, may kaakibat itong karampatang biyaya sa iyo. Kaya naman, hindi po ako nag-atubiling lagdaan ang sampung libong Anniversary Bonus... para sa bawat opisyal at kawani ng DPWH ngayong taon," Aquino said in his speech during the DPWH anniversary rites.

"Noong akin pong nilalagdaan ang approval nito, ako po’y napag-isip, tila ‘pag DPWH, sa pagbabagong pinapakita, kulang yata ang naitalang bonus," he added.
Aquino noted that of the 41,463 DPWH projects since 2010, about 33,095 or 80 percent have been completed.

While DPWH are expected to get their bonus, weather forecasters of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration are seeking for the annual appropriation of their benefits.

Mon Agustin, head of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association of technical and non-technical personnel at PAGASA, said their hazard and longevity benefits haven't been given since January this year.

The President has assured that he will have it checked if the PAGASA employees' benefits have been released.