SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors has approved the grant of ancillary benefits, including five days of wellness leave, to Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) employees. 

The benefits cover 861 SBMA COS and JO employees starting January 1 this year.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the Civil Service Commission (CSC) approved a five-day paid wellness leave for government employees in support of the government’s thrust to provide a better quality of life for Filipinos through mental and physical health and well-being initiatives.

The CSC order also allows up to three consecutive days off, separate from existing vacation/sick leaves, public sector officials and employees. 

The SBMA Board approved the ancillary benefits last January 27 through Board Resolution No. 26-01-1655 following the release of Joint Circular No. 1, Series of 2025 by the CSC, Commission on Audit (COA), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Under CSC-COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2025, government COS and JO workers are entitled to ancillary benefits such as overtime pay (based on CSC-DBM JC No. 2, s. 2015), reimbursement for official local travel, and a potential 20% premium on daily pay, subject to fund availability and contract stipulations. 

Additionally, the said SBMA Board Resolution authorized the agency to provide ancillary benefits to COS and JO employees, such as compensatory time off (CTO), flexible working arrangement (FWA), reimbursement of authorized official travel expense, and wellness leave.

Aliño further said that the grant of these benefits is intended to allow COS and JO workers to effectively fulfill their contractual obligations, particularly where service exigencies require extended work hours, mobility beyond official stations, and the continuity of SBMA operations.

They may also receive a year-end gratuity pay of up to ₱7,000 for 2024, depending on the length of service.

These benefits are generally applicable to national government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), subject to budget availability.

The adoption of FWAs has been institutionalized across both public and private sectors to enhance productivity, promote work-life balance, and ensure business continuity during disruptive situations.

The SBMA employs 631 COS and 230 JO employees as of December 31, 2025. 