Teachers are up in arms over the exclusion of the Department of Education (DepEd) from the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for fiscal year 2023, slamming the incentive system as “flawed” and “unjust.”

In a statement issued Monday, July 7, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) cited long-standing issues in the evaluation process and called for an urgent overhaul of the bonus scheme to ensure fair and timely recognition of educators’ efforts across the country.

TDC expressed dismay over DepEd’s exclusion from the bonus distribution, stressing that public school teachers should not be penalized for agency-level performance shortcomings.

The group urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to “swiftly approve” DepEd’s appeal for inclusion in the 2023 PBB, following a dialogue held between TDC leaders and DBM officials on July 3.

“Kung anuman ang pagkukulang ng DepEd bilang ahensiya, natitiyak naming wala kaming kinalaman doon (Whatever shortcomings the Department of Education may have as an agency, we are certain that we had no part in them),” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

“Gumampan kami sa aming mga tungkulin sa kabila ng napakaraming limitasyon at pagsubok, kaya marapat lamang na kilalanin ito ng gobyerno (We fulfilled our duties despite numerous limitations and challenges, and for that, the government ought to recognize our efforts),” he added.

DBM Assistant Secretary Bodie Pulido explained that DepEd was declared ineligible for the 2023 PBB due to low scores in certain performance indicators.

However, he confirmed that the agency has filed a request for review, which is currently being considered along with other similarly affected government offices.

Pulido noted that some previously ineligible agencies have already been reconsidered.

TDC criticized the current PBB mechanism, calling it “flawed, burdensome, and demoralizing,” especially for classroom teachers who consistently meet—and often exceed—their responsibilities despite systemic challenges.

“Once again, our teachers suffer because of a system that evaluates agency-wide performance based on rigid and often unrealistic criteria,” Basas lamented. “Teachers have fulfilled their duties, even exceeded expectations, yet they are denied what is justly due them,” he added.

The group also questioned the effectiveness of the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS), the primary basis for individual performance ratings.

While most teachers receive “very satisfactory” marks, TDC argued that the RPMS and its integration into the PBB framework have become a source of division and discontent in the teaching profession.

“We have repeatedly said that tying the bonus to a performance system as flawed and inconsistent as the RPMS does more harm than good,” Basas said. “It creates division, adds to the administrative burden, and ultimately demoralizes the very people it claims to reward,” he added.

In addition to pushing for DepEd’s inclusion in the 2023 PBB cycle, TDC called on the government to implement urgent reforms to the performance-based bonus policy to ensure it genuinely incentivizes public servants rather than punishes them for bureaucratic inefficiencies.

“Bonuses are part of what is rightfully due to teachers who continue to work under challenging conditions,” Basas said. “We hope this dialogue will lead not only to the release of the PBB 2023 but also to much-needed changes in policy,” he added.

The meeting ended with a mutual agreement between TDC and DBM to maintain open communication and continue working on long-term solutions to systemic issues affecting the country’s educators.