Teachers’ group welcomes DepEd move on bonus issue

A teachers’ group commended the Department of Education (DepEd) for its ‘swift response’ regarding the grant of anniversary bonus incentives for both teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) recognized the immediate response of the DepEd thru a memorandum released by the Office of Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla.

“It is now clear that all the qualified teachers, meaning those who have been in the service for at least one year prior to milestone date which is June 23, 2018 will receive the amount of R3,000,” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

Sevilla, who also serves as the DepEd Spokesman, explained in a text message that the “AB which was given to some of the employees is different from the AB under DepEd Order No. 47, s. 2018, contrary to the earlier claim of some field offices that the employees who recently received the AB for their office anniversary will be exempted.”

Earlier, the TDC sought the clarification thru a formal letter to erase the confusion in the field, particularly in Caloocan City.

The group urged the DepEd to issue guidelines on the implementation of the anniversary bonus to be given this month “so as not to create confusion” on the coverage of the incentive.

In October, during the 2018 World Teachers’ Day (WTD) celebration, Education Secretary Leonor Briones pronounced that a P3,000 anniversary bonus will be granted to teaching and non-teaching personnel.