DepEd bars loan sharks from payout sites

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has prohibited individuals and organizations not connected with the Department of Education (DepEd), including “loan sharks” and private lenders, from conducting activities at designated payout sites of the one-time service recognition incentive (SRI) for public school teachers and non-teaching personnel.

In a memorandum issued on yesterday, Duterte also reminded concerned officials and school heads to properly strategize and strictly implement their payout plans to ensure the safe and orderly distribution of SRI and gratuity pay to qualified DepEd employees and contract of service workers.

“Non-DepEd officials, personnel or workers, including but not limited to representatives, employees and DepEd personnel-agents of private lending institutions, organized and unorganized private lenders, ‘loan sharks,’ political parties or organizations and other non-government organizations are restricted and banned from interfering and using the areas for payout implementation to conduct business or promote their agenda,” read the memorandum.

“Correspondingly, DepEd officials, employees and workers are ordered to request police assistance whenever necessary to implement this memorandum,” it added.

President Marcos earlier issued separate administrative orders authorizing the grant of SRI and gratuity pay for government employees and contract of service workers, respectively.

While Marcos allowed the release of up to P20,000 SRI per employee, the DepEd only approved P15,000, which is based on its available budget.

Duterte said contract of service workers engaged by DepEd will get a gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000, per Marcos’ administrative order.

The Vice President earlier directed that the SRI be released to employees in cash and not through payroll accounts no later than Jan. 6.