SUBIC BAY

861 SBMA COS, JO employees get 5-day wellness leave per CSC-COA- DBM Joint Circular No. 1
Feb 06, 2026

Subic Bay Freeport – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors has approved the Grant of Ancillary Benefits to Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) employees, including five days of Wellness Leave. 
 
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño explained that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has approved a five-day paid Wellness Leave for government employees, starting January 1, 2026. This supports the primary goal of the government to provide a better quality of life for Filipinos thru mental and physical health and well-being initiatives, by allowing up to three consecutive days off, separate from existing vacation/sick leaves. This applies to public sector officials and employees. 
 
Aliño added that the Board approved the Grant of Ancillary Benefits through Board Resolution No. 26-01-1655 on January 27 which was then issued on January 28, 2026, following Joint Circular No. 1, Series of 2025 by the Civil Service Commission (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 authorizes 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 empower COS and JO workers to more 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.

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