Good news for public school teachers. Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said the Department of Education (DepEd) is currently preparing several benefit packages for public school teachers.
Sevilla, during a virtual press briefing on Aug. 17, said these will include annual medical checkup, an incentive benefit for World Teacher's Day (WTD), hazard pay, and COVID-19 benefits and packages - among others.
“DepEd’s finance office is preparing for the coming benefits for our teachers,” Sevilla said in Filipino. “In September, we are targeting to release a P400-million budget to fund the annual medical examination for teachers at P500 each.”
In time for the WTD celebration on Oct. 5, which also falls on the same date when the formal school year starts, Sevilla said that a P900-million budget is also going to be made available so public school teachers get P1,000.00 each.
Sevila also noted that Under Administrative Order 26, all employees who physically report for work under ECQ or Modified ECQ are entitled to P500 per day of hazard pay.
“This is being implemented already so if our employees were asked to report to work during under MECQ or ECQ, they are eligible for hazard pay of P500 per day,” she added.
Amid calls from teachers’ groups for DepEd to provide support and assistance to both teaching and non-teaching personnel who have contracted COVID-19, Sevilla explained the DepEd is already coordinating with the Employees Compensation Commission, PhilHealth, and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for this.