Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, assured on Tuesday that bonuses, pensions, and other benefits of government employees were not reduced under the 2026 national budget, dismissing circulating misinformation.
“Hindi nabawasan ang bonus. Sa NEP ang performance bonus is ₱27 billion. Ang sa GAA is ₱27 billion din so walang mababawasan na bonus,” Gatchalian said in a press conference.
He noted that the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) even increased to ₱79 billion in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, nearly double the ₱39 billion allocated in 2025.
“So, walang katotohanan na mawawala yung bonus. Walang katotohanan yung mga personnel benefits mawawala, kasi dinoble pa natin from 2025 yung MPBF. And pwedeng pang maapektuhan yung new hired,” he added.
On pensions, Gatchalian stressed that the allocation remained unchanged at ₱147 billion under both the National Expenditure Program and the GAA.
“‘Yung pension walang katotohanan na nabawasan yung pension ha, fake news yun… Exactly the same. So, hindi ginalaw ang pension amounts, so lahat ng hihingi ng pension ay ibibigay, tumaas pa,” he said.
Gatchalian reiterated that government workers’ benefits are fully protected under the 2026 budget, countering claims of cuts or reductions