ARMM teachers to get unpaid wages since 2007

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has started releasing millions worth of “backpays” to public school teachers that have not been paid during the past administrations.

ARMM Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan said that the teachers will be receiving unpaid salaries since 2007, worth P146 million.

"The back wages amounting to P146 million is now ready for distribution," Kulayan said.

He said that more than 200 public school teachers in Lanao del Sur have already received their back pays while another batch of 50 teachers in Basilan were slated to receive their unclaimed salaries amounting to P4.8 million.

Eleven more teachers in Lamitan City will receive their back wages amounting to P2.2 million within the week.

About a hundred teachers in the island province of Sulu will also receive back wages amounting to P13.6 million, while 60 mentors in the province of Tawi-Tawi will get P18.6 million worth of back wages.

Teachers in Maguindanao's two school districts received their unpaid salaries amounting to P13.8 million on Wednesday.

Kulayan said that most of the teachers compensated have not received their salaries completely since 2007.

State auditors, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed mismanagement of the regional education department in the past as main reason for the non-payment of the salaries of teachers in the autonomous region.