Amid continued delays in the enrollment of public school teachers into the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) program, a group of teachers on Saturday, May 17, urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to release a cash medical allowance to help cover urgent healthcare expenses.

The Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement, said it has formally appealed to the DepEd to release the mandated P7,000 medical allowance for teaching and non-teaching personnel in cash, citing logistical delays and implementation concerns with the HMO system.

“We believe this is the general sentiment of our teachers, and we urge the DepEd to initiate—or at least seek—the approval of the DBM [Department of Budget and Management], or whichever authority is appropriate, to allow the release of the P7,000 in the form of cash,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said.

In a letter to the DepEd, TDC sought clarification on the status of the medical benefit outlined in Executive Order No. 64 and DBM Budget Circular 2024-6.

These directives mandate government agencies to develop internal policies for implementing a medical allowance for employees.

Basas noted that TDC recognizes the complexities DepEd faces as the nation’s largest bureaucracy, particularly in integrating nearly a million personnel into a unified HMO system.

As a practical interim measure, TDC suggested that a direct cash release of the allowance would streamline the process and enhance efficiency.

“Considering the time constraints and potential challenges in enrolling all eligible teachers within the remaining months, we appeal for an option to receive this benefit in cash,” Basas wrote in the letter.

He added that the funds could be used “immediately for the compulsory annual physical examination and other pressing medical needs.”

In its response, TDC said DepEd—through Dr. Wilfredo E. Cabral of the Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development (OUHROD)—acknowledged the implementation hurdles posed by the department’s size.

However, TDC noted that DepEd maintained this “challenge presents an opportunity to avail a more comprehensive health care package” through the HMO.

Nevertheless, the TDC underscored the urgency of the issue, emphasizing that with many teachers having already completed their required medical examinations, further delays would be highly inconvenient.

As a pragmatic solution, they asserted that a direct cash distribution of the benefit would be the most viable approach—at least for this year.

While calling for the cash distribution, the group also emphasized its support for a long-term HMO solution.

A well-structured HMO system would provide more comprehensive and sustainable healthcare support for DepEd employees, TDC said.

Given this, the coalition urged the DepEd to expedite the selection of a reputable HMO provider capable of delivering broad coverage and timely access to medical services for its teachers and staff.

With School Year 2024–2025 having ended last month and another set to begin next month, TDC is hopeful that the DepEd will adopt a “flexible and responsive implementation policy to ensure that teachers receive the medical support they are entitled to without unnecessary delay.”

The group is also seeking a dialogue with DepEd officials, especially DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, to discuss the matter.