The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has been extended and it's on until the 15th of May. Although a wide variety of cities and municipalities have been placed under a more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ), it still means no work for a wide range of employees and workers in the country.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is the education sector of the country — and they've been on the decision of helping out workers and teachers about getting allowances and financial assistance.
Last month, as a matter of fact, the DepEd announced that the 13th month pay of teachers would be released in May. In addition to that, their performance based bonus (PBBs) would be released earlier, too.
Read: Senate President Vicente Sotto III Looks to Exempt Public School Teachers From Income Tax
Cash allowance for teachers
With the pandemic not coming to a full close, a dose of threat still runs through the veins of workers in the country. Employees and workers from both the public and the private sectors are still yearning and looking for some ways to earn while under this dilemma.
That being said, the department decided that they'll provide cash allowance for teachers. This allowance will amount to P3,500 and it is to be given to the teachers in the month of June.
Read: Bill That Seeks to Increase Public School Teachers’ Salaries, Filed by Senators
What the cash allowance is for
What do you think the cash allowance is for? Is it to help them with their sustainability and their maintenance during this pandemic? Actually, the reason that the Department is providing this financial allowance is to help them purchase teaching materials and supplies for the coming school year.
In the advisory sent by the Department, Annalyn Sevilla, the Undersecretary of the Education Department, said that cash allowance for teachers amounting P3,500 would be per classroom teacher. In addition to that, she said that the distribution should be narrowed down to School Division Offices (SDOs) on the 15th of May 2020.
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The P3,500 cash allowance shall be released to teachers in June 2020. DepEd Regional Offices (ROs), she added, must ensure that the allotment shall be released to Schools Division Offices (SDOs) on or before May 15, 2020.”
Moreover, Sevilla said that DepEd ROs, as well as SDOs shall have the allocation ready; she added that it should be for the payment of cash allowance as included in the second quarter notice of cash allocation and monthly disbursement plan.
It is expected that DepEd ROs and SDOs shall have the cash allocation ready for the payment of the cash allowance. A separate policy guidelines."
Movement of school opening
Straying from the cash allowance for teachers, the COVID-19 outbreak made a lot of things move farther later in the year. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that they're eyeing on starting the classes for higher education in a rolling manner — allowing schools and learning institutions which have alternatives to open sooner.
Read: 13th Month Pay of Public School Teachers, to be Released in May
In the case of the DepEd, however, the start of the school year was moved from June to August this coming school year. But, that's still not the final decision. As a matter of fact, it's going to be in the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), as well as the President regarding the date on when the school year should start.
DepEd Commons
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak which halted the classes this year earlier than the usual, the Education Department developed a continuous learning system for students and teachers — the DepEd Commons. This online learning platform allows both students and teachers to access learning information so that they can use it for the time being.
Not only that, the DepEd's partnerships flourished and it allowed students and teachers to have free access to it. So even if you don't have a wi-fi connection at home, you can use your mobile data even if you don't have any load or credits to access it — it's for free!
Read: Free DepEd Commons Access, Department of Education
From several salary assistance programs, to the creation of flexible learning continuity plans, to the cash allowance for teachers that would be given in June, the Education Department is on the move to create a wide range of learning programs for both the students and teachers amid the situation.
What do you think about the provision of necessary cash allowance to teachers to prepare for the coming school year? Do you think that it's going to be set and started in August of this year without bearing any problems?
Let's wait for the final decision and the condition of the COVID-19 situation in the country and let's hope for the best.
Source/s: The Manila Bulletin News | ABS-CBN News
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