Financial aid for teachers

Clarita A. Natividad

GREAT news, fellow educators! The Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated P400 million for financial assistance for teachers.

According to the DepEd, P500 in financial assistance will be given to qualified public school teachers each for payment of medical expenses during this time of pandemic.

The aid also aims to “augment the other primary health care benefits not being shouldered” by the PhilHealth under the RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act. As of June, there are more or less 857,000 teaching positions under DepEd. Meanwhile, the DepEd issued Order No. 23 s. 2020 dated Sept. 23 containing the guidelines for granting the said financial assistance.

The DepEd said this financial assistance aims to supplement the budget for the medical examination expenses of public school teachers this year, in the light of the declaration of the State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to COVID-19.

The aid also aims to support and encourage teachers to undergo annual medical examination. This, the DepEd said, is part of their efforts in valuing their physical well-being and taking good care of their own health. Teachers have to make sure that they are always physically fit to perform their functions and also ensure the health and safety of learners.

The assistance, DepEd added, is pursuant to Special Provision No. 10 under RA 11260 of the GAA 2019.

In the guidelines, it was stated that teachers play a vital role in facilitating the learning and development of students. As the main contributor in molding the minds of the learners, they are expected to perform with utmost commitment, effectiveness, and competency.

The DepEd continues to recognize the “necessity to keep teachers healthy”. After all, their physical well-being has a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of DepEd’s services.

The guidelines also state that the financial assistance shall be granted for the year 2020 “to all permanent public school teachers who are currently in service or will be hired until November 30, 2020.”

--oOo-

The author is Teacher III at Fortuna Elementary School, Floridablanca West

District, Pampanga