MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-Armm) signed today a supplement memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to finally settle the P1 billion unpaid remittances of teachers in the region.
The DBM will pay state pension fund GSIS almost P1 billion in unpaid premiums, effectively adjusting the GSIS benefits of almost 26,000 teaching and non-teaching workers in Armm.
DBM will pay GSIS about P900 million in cash, 30 days after the signing of the supplemental MOA, with the remaining P100 million to be paid over a period of one year.
Armm Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan said the MoA supplements an earlier agreement signed in March 2004 to settle the unpaid premiums of 15,715 DepEd-Armm employees.
With the payment, around 26,000 DepEd-ARMM employees can now expect higher loanable amounts and retirement benefits.
"We have freed our teachers in service as well as those who already retired from the uncertainty of the full entitlement of their retirement benefit," said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.
Hataman said the teachers can now look forward to a more comfortable retirement package from the GSIS.
"We have made clear to the teachers that this administration is fully dedicated to the promotion of their welfare with the expectation that this will increase their drive and determination to enlighten every Abdul and Fatima in every classroom in the region," the region's chief executive added. (PIA-10)