NEWS BRIEFS

Marcos grants cash incentives to gov’t workersPresident Marcos has signed administrative orders granting P20,000 service recognition incentive (SRI) to government employees as well as P5,000 gratuity pay to contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in government for fiscal year 2023. Under Administrative Order (AO) No. 12, the President authorized the grant of one-time SRI to government employees in the Executive Branch. Qualified for the P20,000 SRI are civilian personnel in national government agencies including those in state universities and colleges and government-owned or controlled corporations, occupying regular, contractual or casual positions. The incentive will also be given to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. Under AO No. 13, Mr. Marcos approved the grant of a one-time gratuity pay of not more than PP5,000 each for the COS and JO government employees who have rendered at least four months of service. —JEROME ANING

Bill giving teachers chalk allowance approvedThe House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill that would provide public school teachers with a regular so-called “chalk allowance” or funds for the purchase of necessary teaching tools. House Bill No. 9682 or the proposed “Teaching Supplies Allowance Act,” which would mandate for each teacher to be given P7,500 for the school year 2024-2025, and P10,000 for school year 2025-2026 and onwards, was passed unanimously on Tuesday’s plenary session. The cash allowance, which will be exempted from income tax, will be given to all public basic education teachers. Funding for the teaching supplies will come from the Department of Education’s annual budget. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADEMandatory tree planting for graduating studentsThe House of Representatives on Tuesday passed measures that mandate parents and graduating senior high school and college students to plant two trees each as part of reforestation efforts. In both instances, 250 congressmen unanimously voted to approve House Bill No. 9587 and HB 9588 on third and final reading. HB 9587 or the “Family Tree Planting Act” sought to require parents to plant two trees for every child born to them as a requirement for the release of the child’s birth certificate. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local government unit will determine the location and what tree to plant. Students with disabilities and those with special needs are exempted. —JULIE M. AURELIO