Both teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) are allowed to reimburse up to 300 per month for the communication expenses incurred while they are working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd Order no. 38 s. of 2020, issued the guidelines authorizing the payment of communication expenses of DepEd personnel relative to the implementation of the alternative work arrangements for the year 2020.
The guidelines for reimbursing communication expenses will retroactively take effect and cover the period of nine months from March 16, 2020 until Dec. 16, 2020.
Briones noted that the payment of communication expenses - for mobile and internet - of DepEd personnel under a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement will be reimbursed in the said period “subject to submission of pertinent documents for reimbursement.”
“The amount which may be reimbursed shall not exceed P300 per month, to be certified by the authorized claimant as actual expenses incurred in connection with the discharge of their official functions and are necessary to support the operations of the agency amidst the pandemic,” Briones said.
Briones also directed heads of offices to “issue a certification” which identifies their personnel who were authorized to claim reimbursement of communication expenses. They also need to affirm that these expenses “were incurred in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.”
Aside from the certification, the DepEd employees who wish to reimburse their communication expenses are also required to submit “proof of purchase or payment” such as official receipts for the purchase of the prepaid load, payment of postpaid line or internet subscription under their name. Scanned copies or screenshots of confirmation of mobile e-load bearing the reference number and mobile number of the claimant may also be submitted as proof.
The DepEd noted that the claims for reimbursement of communication expenses - for both mobile and Internet load applicable to multiple networks - of the personnel under the WFH set-up shall be “based on the actual amount of expenses incurred” but will not exceed P300 per month. “Charges in excess of this monthly ceiling, if any, shall be shouldered by the personnel concerned,” it added.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DepEd currently implements a distance learning set-up for students. Lessons are delivered to students through multiple learning delivery modalities such as modular (printed and offline), online, radio or television-based instructions, or a combination of these modes (blended learning).
Without face-to-face interaction, students and their parents under the distance learning set-up are allowed to communicate with the teachers - through calls, text messages, or by sending emails, online messages - for school related concerns.
For DepEd teachers and other personnel, a WFH arrangement is also in effect - except for those authorized by their respective Regional Directors to be part of the skeleton workforce.