THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday approved the release of P3.39 billion as payment for the performance-based bonus (PBB) of 225,545 qualified officials and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. “Our police officers are among the pillars of our nation. They stand at the frontlines of peace and order every single day. We see their hard work and dedication, so we are making sure they receive what is rightfully due to them,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement. The release of the PBB for police personnel is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen the morale and welfare of government workers, especially law enforcement front-liners. It also underscores the administration’s broader thrust to build a professional, motivated and well-supported bureaucracy that delivers with integrity and excellence.Under the approved release, each qualified PNP official and personnel will receive a PBB equivalent to 45.5 percent of their monthly basic salary as of Dec. 31, 2023. Those in the first, second and third levels must have achieved at least a “very satisfactory” rating under the Civil Service Commission-approved Strategic Performance Management System or the equivalent rating required by the Career Executive Service Board to be eligible. The funds will be charged against the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund under Republic Act 12116, or the Fiscal Year 2025 General Appropriations Act, the DBM said. The payment of the FY 2023 PBB follows the Final Eligibility Assessment Report dated Sept. 16, 2024, from the Administrative Order 25 Inter-Agency Task Force, confirming the PNP’s eligibility for the grant of said bonus. Pangandaman noted that the PBB is only a small token compared to the daily sacrifices made by the men and women of the police force who daily face danger, exhaustion and uncertainty just to keep the public safe. “This is just a small thing compared to the blood and sweat that our police officers shed every day. With every peso they receive, there is the government’s recognition of their heroism and loyal service to the people,” the budget chief stated. “This is a great help to our police officers and their families. Whether it’s for buying food, paying for their children’s tuition, helping with the household budget — or any other way it can be useful — the important thing is for them to feel that we appreciate their sacrifice,” she added. “Through this release, we not only recognize their service but also reaffirm our commitment to a government that rewards performance and accountability,” she further said.