THOUSANDS of public school teachers in Bacolod City are hopeful that the City Government will release their emergency cost of living allowance (Ecola) next week.
Gualberto Dajao, president of Bacolod City Public School Teachers Association, said on Thursday that if the City Government fails to release their Ecola by that time, they will seek a dialogue with the Commission on Audit (COA).
He said some of the teachers have already received their Ecola, but about 3,200 teachers are still waiting for the release of their allowances.
“We already completed the requirements and we are positive that it will be released next week,” Dajao added.
Councilor Renecito Novero, chairperson of committee on education, had earlier said that anytime this week, the teachers will receive their Ecola once they complete the requirements.
Novero said the Ecola budget, which was charged to the 2016 budget, has already been obligated.
Last week, hundreds of public school teachers held a “silent protest” at the Bacolod Government Center, calling for the release of their Ecola.
The teachers have not received their P6,000 quarterly Ecola for three quarters, or nine months.
On Wednesday’s session, a heated argument ensued between Novero and Councilor Claudio Puentevella when the latter authored a resolution requesting the City Mayor’s Office to fast track the release of the Ecola.
Puentevella said Novero opposed the resolution.
For his part, Novero said he refused to support it because it is not the mayor who could expedite the release of the teachers’ Ecola.
The City Council agreed to hold a public hearing on the delayed release of Ecola next week.