MORE than 100,000 contract of service, job order and project-based government employees will receive a modest Christmas gift of P2,000 each from the Duterte administration, a senior Cabinet official said Wednesday.
Echoing the results of the last Cabinet meeting on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said President Rodrigo Duterte had approved the recommendation of Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo for COS, JO and PB workers in government be given cash gifts by government for the Christmas season.
“Secretary Taguiwalo, who earlier recommended a minimum of P10,000 for each of over P100,000 JOs, COS and PB workers, said government should also recognize the contributions of these workers to the efforts to serve the people,” Piñol said in his social media account.
Pinol echoed that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, however, raised contentions the amount would involve an estimated P3.5 billion in additional budget from government, but nonetheless, the President approved a smaller amount to help them in their needs.
“President Duterte agreed that JOs, COS and PB workers should be given a cash gift for them to share with their families on Christmas. It was agreed that each of the workers will receive an incentive of P2,000 which President Duterte approved,” he added.