MANILA, Philippines?The Department of Education on Tuesday called on public school teachers to report on the receipt or non-receipt of their P10,000 Christmas bonus, as it assured them the department was ?exhausting all means? to have the money in their hands by Thursday.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the DepEd released on December 15 the amount of P5.2 billion for the bonuses of close to 500,000 teachers nationwide.

Of the amount, P3.5 billion came from the Department of Budget and Management to cover P7,000 of the bonus, while P1.7 billion came from DepEd savings for the rest or P3,000.

The DepEd said the funds were released to regional offices, except Region II, as of December 16.

?This was the first time we were able to release the whole amount to our employees in one tranche. In previous years, they would receive the P7,000 from the national government and the P3,000 would come later,? Luistro said.

Teachers? groups reported that only teachers from Manila had received their bonuses. But Luistro, who earlier said the bonuses may come before the New Year, promised they would be released before Christmas eve.

?Our officials and personnel in the field are finding ways to make it happen,? Luistro said.

He said DepEd officials were ?closely monitoring? the transfer of cash at the division level but called on the teachers to provide feedback on their receipt of the bonuses. They may send questions and reports to the DepEd action center by e-mail at action@deped.gov.ph or through text at 0919-4560027.