DepEd Sec. Juan Edgardo Angara
MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers are now assured of free legal assistance under a “milestone” agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the IBP, represented by its president Antonio Pido, providing legal aid “pro bono,” or without payment, to DepEd teachers and nonteaching personnel nationwide.
“It is in line with our thrust to empower our teachers and free them of unnecessary burdens—administrative, financial, and now, with your help, even legal burdens,” Angara said in his speech at the DepEd central office in Pasig City.
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“Here in DepEd, we promise to be active in advocating for this program to ensure that our personnel are fully aware of the services available to them,” he added.
Endorsed by DepEd
Under the agreement, teachers and nonteaching personnel of DepEd may seek free legal consultation and advice from the IBP, the official organization of all lawyers in the country.
Among the nonteaching personnel covered by the agreement are administrative officers, accountants, clerks, and bookkeepers.
The IBP may also assist teachers and other DepEd personnel in lending disputes and other legal troubles, according to Angara.
Before the agreement, DepEd was required to endorse requests for legal assistance and to “ensure that communication channels are open between our offices and IBP,” the education secretary said.
“Programs like this ensure that having access to a lawyer is no longer an unreachable privilege for the biggest government workforce,” Angara noted.
The MOA signing was witnessed by representatives from three of the largest teachers’ unions—the DepEd Teachers’ Union, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC).
The groups welcomed the signing of the agreement, saying this would relieve teachers of legal burdens now or in the future.
“This agreement strengthens the legal resources available to teachers who are often left to face administrative or criminal charges alone,” said TDC chair Benjo Basas.
Limited access
He explained that some teachers and nonteaching personnel were fighting legal battles that were a “form of harassment if not outright scams.”
ACT, meanwhile, was represented by its former party list Rep. Antonio Tinio, who described the agreement as a “positive step” toward addressing legal troubles faced by education workers.
Tinio said many teachers, especially in far-flung areas, had limited access to legal services and could not afford to hire private lawyers.
“Our teachers can now access free legal consultation and notarization services, which will greatly help them, especially in times of legal challenges,” he said.
Tinio said he hoped DepEd’s agreement with the IBP was only the first of many initiatives to uplift the welfare of teachers and nonteaching personnel.
He pointed out that teachers and other DepEd personnel were still hoping for better compensation and benefits.
“We hope this is just the beginning of more programs that will protect and uplift the welfare of our public school teachers and education support personnel,” Tinio said.