Section 16Sec./Art. 16

Gravity. Any personnel of the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority not so appointed or who refuses such appointment shall be paid the money value of his accumulated vacation and sick leave, and such retirement gratuity as may be due him under existing retirement laws. Any of the employees and laborers who does not qualify under any existing retirement law shall be paid one month salary for every year of service, payable in lump sum.

For this purpose, there is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the national treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of fifteen million pesos to provide for their separation gratuities, accumulated vacation and sick leaves and/or retirement, when and if, payable and due to them, subject to reimbursement by the system to the national treasury out of its earnings within three fiscal years from the date of availment of the appropriated amount.

The personnel of the Wells and Springs Department whose salaries are paid from Congressional Appropriations and who cannot be absorbed by the Bureau of Public Works, shall be paid their terminal pay and retirement gratuity from Congressional Appropriations. However, in case an officer or employee is subsequently reinstated in the government, its branches and instrumentalities, including government corporation, he shall refund to the paying agency the value of the gratuity which he would not have received had he been paid in monthly installments.