Teachers to finally get internet loads in June
A laptop is used to show a visual marker for an episode on the subject of English for Grade 4 students in front Josephine Pama at the Department of Education Central’s Information and Communications Technology Service in Pasig City. The video will be used for DepEd’s online distance learning. Pama was selected from the 2nd batch of applicants (2,052) for DepEd TV broadcasters. She has been a SPED teacher for 24 years and currently works in Silahis ng Katarungan Special School in Paco, Manila which handles mostly students with emotional behavior disorder. Pama applied for this because, “ teachers kami, mas gusto naming makatulong hanggang saan namin maaabot ang bata.” Classes in public schools are set to open on October 5 via distance learning away from regular school settings to prevent students from acquiring and further spreading COVID-19. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Teachers may finally receive their long-overdue internet loads in June, as the procurement process for them was still ongoing, an education official said on Friday.
“Allocation and use of all public funds are governed by the usual budget, accounting, procurement, and auditing rules and regulations,” said Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla.
“There is no basis yet to release and pay ‘internet allowance’ for any government agency, hence, the Department of Education resorted to procurement of internet load,” Sevilla said.
“This is scheduled for release/pay at the start of the school year ’21-’22,” she said.
Under the 2021 budget, teachers’ cash allowance was increased from P3,500 to P5,000 a year to cover their expenses in distance learning.
—Mariejo S. Ramos
