Education execs to get additional benefits

To promote the values of professionalism and humanism, the Department of Education has granted additional benefits and privileges to its officials.

Through a department order issued by Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, it was specified that among those who are entitled to receive additional benefits and privileges are the regional and assistant regional directors, bureau, center and service directors; schools division superintendents and assistant superintendents who are transferred or assigned to a workstation as a result of the department's policy on reshuffling and not upon the request of the official concerned.

Hidalgo stated that the benefits and privileges which shall be given to the department officials include quarters allowance, actual expenses incurred while reporting to a new workstation, extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, monthly home visits, and relocation allowance.The quarters allowance covers the free use of DepEd-owned or leased place of lodging, and rent for dwelling unit.

The privilege to reimburse actual expenses incurred while reporting to a new workstation consists of payment on actual transportation expenses of concerned official, spouse and children including freight expenses of baggage, household effects and motor vehicles.

Likewise, the officials are now authorized to pay an annual extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses in the following amount and rank: P230,000 - secretary; P115,000 - undersecretary; P85,000 - assistant secretary; and P80,000 - bureau and regional director.

The relocation allowance is granted if the official is re-assigned to a new workstation for at least six months. It is not applicable to any assignment within the National Capital Region and in regions involving a distance of less than 100 kilometers, except when the transfer involves travel by air or sea. The allowance is equivalent to the first 30 days of the official in his new assignment based on his daily rate of per diem, chargeable against the maintenance and other operating expenses of his new assignment. On top of the allowances and expenses allowed, the officials have the privilege of paid family visit for two working days, provided their workstation is at least 100 kilometers away from residence, or that which requires travel by air or sea. - Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV