‘Teachers’ performance bonus delayed’

MANILA, Philippines - The payment of the performance bonus of public school teachers has been delayed by two months, Rep. Antonio Tinio of party-list group Alliance of Concerned Teachers said yesterday.

He is calling on the Department of Budget and Management to release the necessary funds as many of his constituents have been complaining to him about the supposed delay.

 “Teachers and other government employees desperately need their performance bonus to see them through the Christmas season,” he added.

Tinio explained that the performance-based incentive scheme grants government employees a one-time bonus of P5,000 to P35,000 depending upon their compliance with a set of criteria.

In the case of teachers, the criteria are their school’s dropout rate, national achievement test showing and liquidation of their school’s operating funds.

In a related development, Cebu Rep. Luis Quisumbing filed a bill that seeks to upgrade the entry-level salary rate of public school teachers from Salary Grade 11 (about P15,000 a month) to Grade 19 (P23,000 to P24,000).

Quisumbing’s bill mandates Congress to include the funds for the salary upgrading in the annual national budget. 

There are several proposals in the House of Representatives and the Senate to increase the salaries of teachers, who, numbering more than 500,000, comprise the single biggest group of public servants.