For “reference and information” of all concerned employees, the Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a clarification on the “confirmed” benefits and allowances to be given before this year ends.
Recently, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Service and Education Programs Delivery Unit Annalyn Sevilla said she was “asked on the veracity of the list of benefits and allowances that are due to be paid to all DepEd employees on or before November 15, 2019.”
As a response, Sevilla confirmed that the year-end bonus – which is equivalent to one month’s salary and to be given on or after November 15 has been confirmed as well as the P5,000 Cash Gift also to be given on or after November 15.
Sevilla also confirmed that the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) will also be given to DepEd employees in the amount of P5,000 to be given not earlier than December 15 per Department of Budget (DBM) Circular 2017-4 and EO 201 series of 2016.
PBB ‘not automatic’
Meanwhile, Sevilla clarified that the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) is not an “automatic benefit” because “it is based on validation and qualification of the Department’s performance for the past year.”
As defined by DepEd, the PBB is “a top-up incentive given to personnel of bureaus or delivery unit in accordance to their contribution to the accomplishment of their department’s overall targets and commitments.”
Groups such as the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) have been opposing the implementation of the PBB for “being highly exploitative” and could be a “source of corruption, division and dishonesty.”
Currently, Sevilla assured that the PBB application of DepEd is “undergoing review or validation for qualification.” She added that the DepEd Central Office units are also “complying with the initial findings and/or request for additional info/data/reports” needed for the PBB. In the previous years, she explained that “even if DepEd does not qualify in the PBB” the agency’s administration requested to DBM to “grant the PBB of teachers and such was granted.”
This year, Sevilla enjoined all DepEd employees to “wait for the results and hope that not only teachers are granted PBB, but the whole DepEd family – including teaching-related and non-teaching positions.”
Source:
- Manila Bulletin
- By: Merlina Hernando-Malipot
- Published: October 2, 2019
