Following the surge in coronavirus infections in the country, a teachers’ group once again called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the strict implementation of alternative work arrangements (AWA) - especially for teachers.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement issued Monday, March 22, asked the DepEd leadership anew to oversee the strict implementation of AWA at the local level.

“Our teachers have been so exposed to the virus because of various activities such as face-to-face seminars and meetings that could have been conducted virtually,” TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas said in Filipino.

Based said that are also teachers that are being required to visit the homes of their students aside from the distribution and retrieval of modules under the distance learning set-up.

TDC also noted also the report wherein around 30 DepEd employees tested positive for COVID-19 after attending face-to-face seminars in Zambales province.

“What happened in Zambales was not an isolated case because teachers are still obligated to go to schools despite the DepEd’s pronouncement that physical reporting is not allowed or strongly discouraged,” Basas said.

As the government enforces stricter measures to curb the rising COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces, TDC also appealed to DepEd “not put the lives and safety of our teachers at stake.”

This, the group said, can be done if the DepEd “strictly implements health protocols” and its existing policy order on AWA.

TDC also urged DepEd to probe reports that its local officials are the ones forcing teachers to do physical reporting. “DepEd, itself, proudly claims that our teachers are under the work-from-home scheme but why is it that this is not what is happening in the field?” Basas ended.