As the end of the year approaches, government workers—especially those in the Department of Education (DepEd)—begin looking forward to various year-end incentives. Two of the most talked-about benefits are the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) and the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI). While both provide valuable monetary support, they differ significantly in their legal basis, consistency of release, and current status for this year.

Below is a clear and updated overview to help employees understand what is highly likely to be released soon and what remains pending.

1. The Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI)

A yearly incentive backed by an Executive Order and DBM guidelines

Among the different government bonuses, the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) is the most consistent. It is firmly backed by Executive Order No. 201 (2016), which authorizes the annual granting of the PEI up to ₱5,000 for eligible government personnel. Unlike other incentives that depend on yearly presidential approval, the PEI’s release is guided by:

A standing Executive Order (EO 201)
Annual DBM guidelines
Availability of funds within agency budgets

Because these foundations do not change each year, the PEI has become one of the most stable and predictable incentives for government workers.

Why the PEI is highly likely to be released again this year

Agencies, including DepEd regional and division offices, have already begun issuing internal memos for the preparation of PEI payrolls, which is a reliable indicator that the incentive will push through. These memos are standard practice and align with the long-standing yearly implementation of PEI since EO 201 took effect.

Additionally, since the PEI is already integrated into annual budgetary planning and does not require a new Executive Order each year, its release remains highly expected, provided employees meet the standard qualifications:

Must be in government service as of November 30
Must have rendered at least four (4) months of service within the year
Employees with fewer months of service receive pro-rated amounts
Those who have fully retired, resigned, or separated before November 30 are not eligible

For most employees, this means the full ₱5,000 PEI shall be given not earlier than December 15, as stipulated in EO No. 201, s. 2016.

2. The Service Recognition Incentive (SRI)

A year-end benefit that depends on a Presidential Administrative Order

While the PEI is steady and predictable, the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) operates differently. The SRI is not guaranteed yearly because it requires a new Administrative Order (AO) from the Office of the President before DBM can issue guidelines.

In the past years, the SRI has typically been:

Authorized in December, through a newly signed AO
Capped at “up to ₱20,000”, depending on available savings
Released nationwide after DBM issues the corresponding budget circular

However, for this current year, no Administrative Order has been issued yet. This means that:

The SRI is not confirmed
Agencies cannot prepare payrolls
Employees must wait for Malacañang’s decision

Some local divisions have publicly stated that they are “waiting for the official announcement from the Office of the President”—a standard status when no AO has been released.

Given past patterns, if the SRI is approved this year, it will likely follow the same late-December timeline. But until an AO is published, employees should not consider it guaranteed.