For its employees be merry this Christmas, the Philippine government will be giving its state employees their year-end bonus and cash gift, as the yuletide season kicks off.

The good news was confirmed by the Budget Secretary, Benjamin Diokno, according to news reports.

The Department of Budget and Management has allocated a total of P39.77 billion for the year-end bonus and cash gifts of all the government employees under the 2017 budget.

Along with the employees’ year-end bonus, they are also expecting their cash gift worth P5,000.00.

The budget secretary noted that the release of the said bonuses and cash gifts will start on November 16, since the 15th of the month is a non-working day due to the 31st ASEAN Summit.

All government employees who have rendered services for at least four months, including their leaves of absence with pay beginning January 1 to October 31 are eligible to receive the said year-end bonus and cash gift.

Budget Secreatry Diokno further noted that the year-end bonus and cash gifts are subject to the guidelines issued by both the Department of Budget and Management and Budget Circular No. 2016-4