Teachers to get cash allowance this week

MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers will receive their annual cash allowance of P5,000 on the first week of the schoolyear that would begin tomorrow, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said yesterday the annual benefit, formerly known as “chalk allowance,” aims to augment the expenses incurred by teachers in preparation for the opening of classes.

An earlier advisory issued by Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said the allowance may be used “for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, for internet subscription and other communication expenses.”

It shall also cover the annual medical examination expense of teachers for the schoolyear.

The cash allowance is considered an “outright expense” and that presentation or submission of bills or receipts is not required.

Teachers clarified that the allowance announced by DepEd is a regular benefit and not an additional aid from the government.

Received every year by teachers, the amount of the allowance gradually increased from P1,000 a decade ago to P3,500 in 2018.

Last year, it was increased to P5,000 in light of the additional expenses incurred by teachers in relation to the implementation of distance learning.

The separate P500 received by teachers for medical examination was removed and was made chargeable to the P5,000 cash allowance.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) maintained that the allowance is not enough to cover teaching-related expenses of teachers for an entire schoolyear.

ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said “teachers no longer spend just for chalk and class record. Some of them also take out loans just to buy laptops, printers and projectors because these are necessary for our jobs.”

The ACT reiterated their call to increase the cash allowance to at least P10,000.