Release of last tranche of 13th month pay okayed

MALACAÑANG said the National Government is now ready to release the balance of the 13th month pay of government employees.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is now ready to release the balance of the 13th month pay to government employees who wanted to avail it.

Andaya said the government made the availment of the 13th month pay optional since there were employees who were not affected by typhoon Ondoy while some others opted not to advance the balance of their 13th month pay.

Andaya also said the 1.2 million government employees had already received the first half of their 13th month pay last May.

”Today, we'll start giving away the 13th month pay. You only have to inform your respective offices. This is purely voluntary,” Andaya told reporters last Thursday.

The government usually releases the second half of the 13th month pay in November.(PNA)