THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday announced that qualified government employees will receive their midyear bonus starting May 15.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman acknowledged that the incentive is "eagerly awaited" by the employees as it would "significantly assist them in meeting their daily needs."

"As always, we remind all government agencies and offices to ensure the prompt and timely release of bonuses to their employees, in accordance with our existing rules and regulations. This will begin on May 15," she said.

The midyear bonus is equal to one month's basic pay. It is given to eligible personnel who have worked at least four months from July 1 of the previous year to May 15 of the current year.

The personnel must still be employed in the government as of May 15 of the current year and should have received at least a satisfactory performance rating in the most recent rating period or applicable performance appraisal period.

The midyear bonus will be provided to all civilian personnel, including regular, casual and contractual employees. This includes appointive or elective positions, both full-time and part-time, in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, constitutional commissions, other constitutional offices, state universities and colleges, and government-owned and -controlled corporations covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System, as well as local government units, the DBM said.

Pangandaman said the midyear bonus is not just for civilian employees but extends to military and uniformed personnel — members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense, as well as personnel from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard, and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

The allocation of midyear bonuses for personnel in provinces, cities, municipalities and barangay will be determined by their respective provincial boards, subject to policy conditions for the purpose under DBM Budget Circular 2017-2.