DepEd authorizes release of ₱20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for 2025

DepEd authorizes release of ₱20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for 2025

The Department of Education (DepEd) has officially given the green light for the grant of the Fiscal Year 2025 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) to its eligible employees, setting the uniform rate at ₱20,000.00.

In a memorandum dated December 17, 2025, signed by Undersecretary Atty. Fatima Lipp D. Panontongan and Assistant Secretary for Finance Atty. Edson Byron K. Sy, the agency outlined the guidelines for the immediate release of the incentive.

The directive follows Administrative Order (AO) No. 40 and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Budget Circular No. 2025-3, which authorized the one-time grant for government employees.

Partial Release Scheme

While the total authorized amount is ₱20,000 per employee, the DepEd Finance strand clarified that the release will be done in tranches due to funding modification requirements.

According to the advisory, the payment will be released as follows:

* Initial Release (Up to ₱14,500): DepEd Central Office will download funds computed at ₱14,500 per person.

* DepEd Operating Units (OUs) that currently have available cash allocations are authorized to start paying the SRI immediately up to ₱14,500 only.

* Units Without Cash Allocation: For Operating Units without available cash but maintaining MDS Sub-Accounts with Land Bank, the Central Office will transfer cash allocations computed at ₱10,000 per eligible personnel initially.

* Remaining Balance: The remaining balance to complete the full ₱20,000 will be downloaded and released once the DBM approves the request for the modification of allotments.

Method of Payment

The memorandum states that the SRI will be credited directly to the respective ATM payroll accounts of eligible employees.

DepEd emphasized that all offices must obligate the allotment strictly within the validity period of the Personnel Services appropriations, which is until December 31, 2025. Any amount not paid within this period will be considered "due and demandable accounts payable."

The Education Department has instructed strict compliance with these guidelines to ensure teachers and non-teaching personnel receive their incentives before the year ends.

Source: DepEd Memorandum, Office of the Secretary (DOWNLOAD)