THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has removed the separate request requirement for covered personnel expenses to streamline the handling of salary and benefit funding gaps in government agencies.
Under Circular Letter No. 2026-10, the DBM can determine covered funding requirements using updated personnel and financial data without waiting for agencies to submit a separate request.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. de Leon said the reform seeks to prevent delays in the payment of benefits due to government workers.
The reform covers national government agencies with authorized permanent civilian plantilla positions included in the DBM’s web-based Personnel Services Itemization and Plantilla of Personnel (PSIPOP).
Under the circular, agencies are required to review their PSIPOP and update the Plantilla of Personnel every last week of the month.
Covered personnel services expenditures include salaries and step increments; Personnel Economic Relief Allowance; uniform and clothing allowance; midyear and year-end bonuses and cash gifts; medical allowance; Productivity Enhancement Incentive; and representation and transportation allowances.
The streamlined process also covers the government’s counterpart contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, Employees Compensation Insurance Premium, and Retirement and Life Insurance Premium.
However, personnel funding deficiencies arising from hiring, promotion, reclassification and other human resource actions undertaken after Sept. 30, as well as requirements outside the scope of the circular, will still require a separate budget request for DBM review and evaluation. — Justine Irish D. Tabile