President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that there is a possibility of another Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for government employees this year, depending on the country's financial situation.
In an interview with reporters in Taguig, Marcos said that the government employees will have to wait until the end of the fiscal year to see what the government can afford.
"We'll see. We'll see how — what is our financial position at the end of this all. That's just how it is," Marcos said.
"We wait until the end of the fiscal year to see what it is that we can afford. So, we will have another look at that to see — if it's possible," Marcos added.
Marcos said that they have many projects ongoing now, so they need to compensate as well.
"All Filipinos are struggling now. So, whatever help we can provide, we will do. So, we'll see if we can — if it is actually viable, if it is financially feasible to give," he said.
Marcos issued an Administrative Order last year providing a P20,000 SRI for government employees.
The SRI is a one-time incentive given to government employees to recognize their service and contribution to the government.
As per the Administrative Order, employees working in both houses of Congress, the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and Constitutional offices may also be eligible for a one-time SRI, subject to approval from their respective heads of offices, not surpassing P20,000 at a uniform rate.
The SRI is intended to help government employees cope with the rising cost of living.
Employees across various sectors, encompassing national government agencies, state universities, government-owned corporations, and personnel in different employment arrangements such as regular, contractual, or casual roles, along with military, police, fire, and jail staff under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, were recipients of the incentive.
Additionally, personnel in local government units, including those in smaller administrative divisions, might qualify for the incentive, contingent upon the financial capacity of the LGUs and considering constraints outlined in their budgets as per the Local Government Code of 1991.
