The Department of Budget and Management on Friday announced that over 1.8 million government workers started to receive a one-time Service Recognition Incentive worth P20,000 to show appreciation for their hard work as Filipino public servants.

This comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on 7 December signed Administrative Order 12 which allowed employees working for the executive department to get a one-time SRI at a uniform rate of no more than P20,000.

Under the AO13, it stated that the government will provide SRI to civilian workers for national government agencies, military and police, the Bureau of Corrections, the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

It will also be given to fire and jail workers for the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The DBM said that civilian employees must have regular, contractual, or casual jobs in order to be eligible for the SRI.

"This is one way of making them feel that the government acknowledges their good work and efficient performance," Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

"As the Order notes, administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognizes all government employees for their collective and invaluable contribution to the government's continuing efforts in pursuing the objectives, commitments, targets, and deliverables under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the President's 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda," she added.