FURTHER AMENDING ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR (A.C.) NO. 22-2204 DATED JUNE 11, 2004, PRESCRIBING THE GUIDELINES IN THE GRANT OF LOYALTY AWARD FOR OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE SUPR…

WHEREAS, on April 30, 2002, the Court approved a Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence for the Court, known as the Supreme Court (SC) PRAISE;

WHEREAS, among the incentives provided in the SC PRAISE is the Loyalty Incentive to be granted to an employee who has continuously and satisfactorily served the government for at least ten (10) years or more;

WHEREAS, the recipient shall be entitled to a cash award in accordance with the allowable rates at the time of the grant, and a lapel emblem/loyalty pin;

WHEREAS, on June 11, 2004, Administrative Circular (A.C.) No. 22-2004 was issued specifically prescribing the guidelines in the grant of loyalty award for officials and employees of the Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal;

WHEREAS, Section 4 of the Circular specifying the lapel pin or ring as loyalty memorabilia or souvenir to be given to a loyalty awardee was amended by A.C. No. 27-2007 dated April 30, 2007;

WHEREAS, in the amended Circular, “the loyalty awardee shall receive a Loyalty memorabilia or souvenir as follows: (a) 10 and 15 years – bronze service pin; (b) 20-25 years – silver pin; (c) 30 years – gold service pin; (d) 35 years – gold service pin with pearl; (e) 40 years – gold service pin with ruby; (f) 45 years – gold service pin with diamond; and (g) 50 years – gold service ring; Other tokens in lieu or lapel emblem/loyalty pin such as wrist watch, ring or others may be given”;

WHEREAS, Section 8 thereof provides its immediate effectivity which shall be the basis in the determination of Loyalty Award for the Calendar Year 2007 and thereafter;

WHEREAS, Section 5 of A.C.No. 22-2004 provides the rates of the loyalty cash incentive based on the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG) Joint Resolution No. 85, dated September 20, 2002 as follows:

WHEREAS, the SC PRAISE Committee has resolved during its meeting on March 21, 2023 to make a distinction as regards the bronze service pin for 15^thyear of entitlement and on the silver service pin for 25^th year of entitlement by providing or completing the pin with a pearl stone;

WHEREAS, the SC PRAISE Committee also addressed the issue about the low rates of the cash incentive that were fixed way back in 2002 which can be reconsidered for a possible rate increase or adjustment pursuant to CFAG Joint Resolution No. 85 which provides that “CFAG member-agencies may establish and formulate their respective Loyalty Cash Incentive rates/schedules subject to availability of funds.”;

WHEREAS, there is a need to amend its effectivity to indicate the year in which the further amendments would be applicable;

WHEREAS, in its Resolution No. 1-2023 dated March 23, 2023, the SC PRAISE Committee proposed the needed further amendments to Sections 4, 5 and 8 of Administrative Circular No. 22-2004, as amended by A.C. No. 27-2007 dated April 30, 2007;

NOW THEREFORE, Sections 4, 5 and 8 of Administrative Circular No. 22-2004 are further Amended thus:

Section 4. Loyalty Award. – The loyalty awardee shall receive a Loyalty memorabilia or souvenir as follows:

Other tokens in lieu of lapel emblem/loyalty pin such as wrist watch, ring or others may be given.

Section 5. Additional Loyalty Cash Incentive. – In addition to the Loyalty memorabilia or souvenir, the Loyalty Awardee shall receive a loyalty cash incentive, subject to the availability of funds as provided in the CFAG Resolution No. 85, dated 20 September 2002, based on the following new rates:

Section 8. Effectivity.- the further amendments to this Administrative Circular shall take effect immediately and shall be the basis in the determination of Loyalty Award for the Calendar Year 2023 and thereafter.

Issued this 4^th day of May, 2023.