Qualified Government Employees May Receive FY 2024 PBB Starting October, Says DBM

Qualified government employees could begin receiving their Fiscal Year 2024 Performance-Based Bonus, or PBB, as early as October 2026, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

DBM Assistant Secretary Gerald Janda said government agencies are expected to start submitting their required performance reports in July. These reports will undergo assessment and validation before an agency can be declared eligible for the incentive.

The processing and possible release of the bonus follow the issuance of Technical Working Group Resolution No. 2026-1 and Memorandum Circular No. 2026-1, which formally provide for the grant and implementation of the FY 2024 PBB. The implementing guidelines were issued on July 3, 2026, and officially posted by the DBM on July 6.

Release May Begin From October to December

According to Janda, the validating agencies and the technical working group constituted under Executive Order No. 61 will be given approximately 60 days to examine the documents and performance reports submitted by government agencies.

The results of the assessment are expected to become available around September or October. Once an agency receives its final eligibility assessment, it may prepare the list of qualified officials and employees and proceed with the payment of the bonus.

Based on the projected schedule, eligible agencies may begin releasing the FY 2024 PBB between October and December 2026.

However, the October timeline should not be interpreted as a guaranteed nationwide release date. The actual payment schedule may differ from one department or agency to another, depending on the completeness of submitted reports, validation results, internal payroll processing and the issuance of the agency’s eligibility assessment.

The Palace earlier confirmed that the FY 2024 PBB would be processed and released within 2026, possibly earlier than previous PBB cycles. It also confirmed that funds for qualified employees of national government agencies had already been provided under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.

PBB Is Not Automatically Granted to All Employees

The approval of the FY 2024 PBB does not mean that every government employee will automatically receive the incentive.

Under the guidelines, a government agency must obtain an overall performance score of at least 70 points to qualify. Agencies that fail to meet the minimum score will not be eligible to grant the bonus.

An agency may also face exclusion if it receives a rating below four in any of the required eligibility criteria.

The assessment covers four major performance areas:

Performance Results. This considers whether the agency achieved the physical targets and programs funded under the national budget.

Process Results. This evaluates improvements in government procedures and services, including streamlining, digitalization, shorter processing times and reduced documentary requirements.

Financial Results. This measures how responsibly and efficiently the agency utilized and disbursed its available funds.

Citizen or Client Satisfaction Results. This examines the quality of services delivered to the public and the agency’s responsiveness to complaints, requests and client concerns.

The PBB is therefore tied not only to the performance of individual personnel but also to the overall accomplishments and compliance of their respective agency.

Individual employees must likewise satisfy applicable requirements on performance rating, length of service, employment status and other conditions stated in the implementing guidelines.

Funding Sources for Different Government Institutions

For national government agencies, the DBM said the funding requirement for the FY 2024 PBB is already included in the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.

This means the national government has set aside funds for the payment of the bonus once the concerned agencies and employees are officially declared eligible.

For local government units, the incentive will be charged against their approved local funds, subject to applicable budgeting and financial rules.

Government-owned or -controlled corporations, meanwhile, will draw funding from their respective approved corporate operating budgets.

The availability of funding alone does not authorize immediate payment. Agencies must first complete the submission, validation, assessment and payroll preparation processes required under the guidelines.

New Guidelines Issued Following Review of PBB System

The processing of the FY 2024 PBB comes after the government ordered a review of the Results-Based Performance Management System and the Performance-Based Incentive System.

Executive Order No. 61, signed on June 3, 2024, suspended the implementation of the previous performance management and incentive issuances while the government reviewed the system. It created a technical working group headed by the DBM and co-chaired by the Office of the Executive Secretary.

The review was ordered after the government found that some performance reporting and evaluation requirements had become duplicative, time-consuming and burdensome for agencies.

The technical working group was tasked with developing a more streamlined, responsive and efficient system that would continue to promote accountability and recognize high-performing government offices and employees.

The issuance of the FY 2024 PBB guidelines allows the government to proceed with the incentive while the broader performance management and incentive system continues to undergo review and improvement.

What Government Employees Should Expect Next

Government employees should wait for official announcements from their respective departments, regional offices, divisions or agencies.

The next major steps will include:

1. Submission of agency performance reports;
2. Validation and assessment of accomplishments;
3. Issuance of the final agency eligibility assessment;
4. Identification of individually qualified employees;
5. Preparation of payroll and funding documents; and
6. Release of the PBB by the concerned agency.

Employees should be cautious about social media posts claiming a fixed or uniform release date. The DBM announcement provides a projected release period beginning in October, but the actual date will still depend on the eligibility and processing status of each agency.

For qualified government workers, the FY 2024 PBB serves as recognition of their contribution to achieving institutional targets, improving public transactions, using government funds responsibly and delivering efficient services to Filipino citizens.