MANILA - Confirming an earlier announcement of the Department of Budget and Management, Malacañang said Tuesday that it will give cash gifts to all state workers possibly within the week.

“Yes, there will be a Christmas bonus,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said during a press briefing.

Remonde said Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. is now processing and coordinating with various agencies to look for possible source of funding for the extra cash gifts.

“Let us wait for Secretary Andaya to finish his computations. He promised me that he will make an announcement within the week,” he said.

For his part, Secretary Andaya admitted that the DBM is now coordinating with the different agencies to know how much savings they have and how much the national government will give as its share for the additional Christmas incentive.

“Kailangang maibigay o maihayag na rin within the week, the earlier we can announce it the better, “Andaya said. He did not mention the exact amount of the Christmas bonus.