The Department of Education (DepEd) issued a statement on Saturday, June 24, refuting the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)'s profiling allegation, which arose after the department requested a list of ACT-Union affiliated teachers availing the Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS).
Photo courtesy of DepEd
In a memorandum dated June 14, Undersecretary for Governance and Field Operations Revsee Escobedo directed all regional and division offices of DepEd to submit a list of public school teachers affiliated with ACT and availing the DepEd's APDS.
The department said that ACT's claim, suggesting that the list was intended for profiling ACT members as part of the government's anti-insurgency campaign, is "patently absurd, distorted, and illogical."
"The sole purpose of consolidating the list of APDS availees, from various organizations in the regions, is to centralize, connect, update, and improve the Department’s Human Resource Systems, including the APDS," it said, noting that the request was publicly available, thus proving its good intent.
Photo courtesy of DepEd
The request was also relevant due to "regular complaints from employees over inaccurate, questionable, and unwarranted salary deductions for loan remittances and membership dues."
"It is well-within its authority and even incumbent upon DepEd to look into the complaints made by its employees and to ensure that their welfare and rights are protected," DepEd added.
Aside from ACT, DepEd mentioned that separate requests were also made for the list of teaching and non-teaching personnel who are part of the said system from other unions, organizations, and associations.
"There is simply no effort or intention to purposely target members of ACT Union," said DepEd.