El Siglo newspaper says that with four and a half months to go before the end of the year, the government has not been saving for the Christmas bonus. The government will need RD$1,500 million to pay its employees the traditional 13th salary. Secretary of the Presidency Sergio Grullo shrugged off the gravity of the matter, and assured public employees they would get their customary extra salary. He said the government has not ruled out taking another loan with local banks to pay the Christmas salary.
