THE provincial government has released the midyear bonus of some 2,678 regular and casual employees amounting to over P29 million.

Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria said those entitled to the compensation were the chiefs of offices, rank and file personnel and casual employees who are assigned in various offices and hospitals under the provincial government.

Claveria added that the amount constituted 50 percent of the monthly basic salary of each employee depending on their corresponding monthly rates.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. revealed that the release of such compensation proved that Pangasinan has robust economy despite the recent calamity that struck the province last month when typhoon “Cosme” devastated the province leaving billions of damages in agriculture and infrastructure.

The release of the midyear bonus marked the very first time such compensation benefit was released thru all the past many
administrations or governors that served the province.

“Akala ko di kaya ng provincial government magbigay ng midyear bonus kasi sa 33 taon ng aking serbisyo, maski isang gobernador di naisip magbigay. Ngayon alam ko na kaya naman pala kung gugustuhin lang nila, at nagpapasalamat ako kay gobernador dahil dito.” (I thought that the provincial government cannot afford to give us midyear bonus because in my past 33 years in service, the benefit was never given by any governor. Now I know that the province can well afford to grant it if they want, and, I thank the governor for this) said Rudy de Guzman,
Administrative Aide IV of Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Gobernador Espino sa pagbibigay niya ng halaga sa kapakanan ng mga empleyado lalo na ang mga ordinaryong empleyado gaya ko. Napaenrol ko ang anak ko sa kolehiyo ng ‘di nagbebenta ng sahod sa mga nagpapainteres,” (I thank Governor Espino for giving utmost attention to the welfare of employees especially the ordinary employees like me. Thru the midyear bonus I was able to enroll my son in college without selling my salary to the loan sharks) disclosed Fe Lacson,
Administrative Aide IV of Provincial Engineering Office who has been with the provincial government for 31 years.

The other half of the employees’ bonus will be released in December in addition to the cash gift which will be sourced out from the province’s surplus resources.

Another benefit set to be received by the provincial employees is the ten percent salary increase effective July this year. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)