A TEACHERS’ group on Sunday slammed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the continuous delay of the release of the bonus, which was intended for Christmas.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), in a statement, said that majority of the teachers were only able to receive their bonuses on December 29 while others are still waiting to get the remaining amount.
The Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), which was initiated by DBM and Malacañang after a series of appeal from the public sector, amounts to a total of P10,000 for each employee.
About P7,000 will be coming from the DBM and the remaining P3,000 will be sourced from the savings of respective agencies.
“However, until December 25, most of the teachers from all over the country have yet to receive any amount. It was only on December 29 that majority of the teachers has already received their P7,000,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said.
“The release of P3,000 is another issue in DepEd. Even DepEd officials are wary that most of the teachers will only receive P7,000 and not the total amount of P10,000,” he added.
Basas cited earlier statements by the DepEd that the department’s supposed savings are “unreleased appropriations” and the funds are also controlled by the DBM.
“We urge the DBM to release funds for this purpose so as not to put the teachers to disadvantage. Employees from other government agencies have received and enjoyed their full amount of PEI, it would be inequitable for us if we do not,” he said.
The group said even as teachers are preparing for today’s (January 4) resumption of classes after the holiday break, many of them have yet to receive the bonus, long after their counterparts in the private sector have done so.
Earlier, former Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople urged the DBM and DepEd to release the full amount, saying that teachers are also hard-pressed to make both ends meet during the holiday season.
Ople, who heads the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, also called on the Senate to open a probe on the delay of the release of the bonus to government workers. (AH/Sunnex)