Question & AnswerQ&A (DBM NATIONAL BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. 451)
Hazard Duty Pay is a compensation premium or allowance paid to officials and employees who, because of the nature and/or location of their work, are exposed to hazards, excluding exposure to hazards affecting the entire population like air, land and water borne, and noise hazards.
All government officials and employees under permanent, temporary, casual status, and contractual personnel employed in the nature of a regular employee whose compensation is charged from lump sum or personal services component of a project fund, working full-time or part-time, in the national government, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and government financial institutions.
1) Those assigned to work areas where the entire population is exposed to the same hazards like air, land and water borne, and noise hazards; 2) Those entitled under special laws, charters, or enabling acts where Hazard Duty Pay is already implemented.
Hazardous work areas include difficult/isolate/hardship posts, areas affected by volcanic activity, areas with risks of radiation, infectious diseases, toxic chemicals, hazardous pollutants, mental health institutions with risks from patients, prison camps lacking adequate police protection, embattled or strife-torn areas, and areas where rescue operations due to natural calamities expose workers to risks.
Various Secretaries certify hazardous areas: Department Secretary for difficult/hardship posts; Secretary of Science and Technology for volcanic activity; Secretary of Health for radiation or infectious risks and mental health institutions; Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources for hazardous pollutants; Secretary of Justice for prison camps; Secretary of National Defense for strife-torn areas; Chairman of the National Disaster Control Coordinating Council for rescue operations areas.
Heads of national government agencies, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations and government financial institutions, may grant Hazard Duty Pay according to the Circular's rules without DBM approval.
For work areas under Items 5.1 to 5.7: 1-10 days - P400, 11-20 days - P500, 21-31 days - P600 monthly. For rescue operations under Item 5.8, pay is at the maximum rate regardless of exposure duration.
Employees shall not receive pay if they are on vacation, sick or study leave over one month; maternity or terminal leave; summer vacation; full-time detail with another agency; attendance in training, scholarships, seminars; or official travel outside hazardous areas for more than one full calendar month.
The head of agency is responsible and personally liable for payments not in accordance with the Circular, and excess payments are subject to refund by the official or employee concerned.