A group of teachers urged the leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) anew to “seriously consider the funding” to implement the welfare provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670).
“We have been in constant coordination with the relevant committees in both houses of Congress and our legislators are supportive of our advocacy,” said Teachers’ Dignity Coalition National Chairperson Benjo Basas on Thursday, May 27.
“What we need now is the proactive stance of the DepEd, the agency primarily tasked to implement the letters and spirit of the law,” he added.
TDC, a 30,000-strong group, said that the RA 4670 is already considered a “vintage law” which was enacted in 1966.
Basas added that the law is considered as the “Bible of the Filipino teachers” for its clear and explicit support to ensure the welfare of public school teachers.
“Unfortunately, many of its provisions have been unimplemented since the 1960s,” the group added.
In particular, Basas said that teachers do not enjoy the honoraria for teaching overload or the overtime pay as stipulated in the Magna Carta.
While there is a special hardship allowance (SHA), Basas said that “it is implemented incorrectly as it is based only on a mere DBM circular which says that the maximum amount shall not exceed 25 percent of a teacher’s monthly salary contrary to the mandate of Magna Carta that 25 percent shall be the minimum.”
“And that one salary grade higher upon retirement is another myth, for the GSIS uses its own policy for computing the retirement benefits of teachers,” Basas said. “These items are all required by the law, thus the DBM, GSIS and DepEd are duty-bound to implement them fully,” he added.
Beyond those provisions, Basas said that the Magna Carta ensures other benefits such as consent for transfer and transportation allowance, salary increment from lowest to highest within a maximum period of ten years, paid study leave for those who served for seven years and criteria set for determination of salaries.
“All of those provisions are either not implemented or implemented but only in part,” TDC said.
Given this, TDC underscored the obligation of DepEd to “provide medical care for its teachers” which is another mandate of Magna Carta stipulated in its Sections 22 and 23.
“Crucial at this time of pandemic are the provisions for free and compulsory medical examination, treatment and hospitalization, and compensation for injuries,” Basas said. “These important provisions are not implemented until this very day when the teachers need it most,” he added.
Basas said that DepEd gave a one-time assistance worth P500 for teachers’ medical examination last year. “We acknowledge such a gesture from the DepEd, though that amount could never be enough to cover the compulsory medical examination which should be free of charge, it is already a good sign that the advocacy is gaining ground and we are moving, despite being very slow,” he added.
In 2020, TDC participated in the Magna Carta review initiated by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
Currently, Basas said that TDC is waiting for the Committee report and recommendations. The group is hopeful that the Committee Chaired by Gatchalian “has incorporated our manifestations.” “The full implementation of the Magna Carta for Teachers may not totally eliminate the ills of the education sector but it will greatly contribute to solving the problems,” Basas said.
TDC has been lobbying for the full implementation of the welfare provisions of Magna Carta - an advocacy that propelled the group’s formation in 2006.