MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday clarified that the services of its casuals and contractual employees had been extended, contrary to Inquirer reports that said they had been terminated effective Dec. 15 under the agency’s rationalization plan.
In a statement sent to the Inquirer, Undersecretary for Operations Rizalino Rivera said the DepEd itself had requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the extension.
“And they (the DBM) allowed us to do this,” he said.
Rivera said the agency’s casuals and contractuals—who are estimated to number 200 nationwide—have the option to “apply for new plantilla positions that will be created if they qualify.”
He added they can also “avail of the same retirement packages regular employees are entitled to if they so choose.”
Regular nonteaching personnel affected by the reorganization were offered a special retirement package, with their retirement taking effect on Jan. 15.
Those who will not take the retirement offer will have their regular item converted into “co-terminus with the incumbent” and then will be reassigned.
Rivera said these employees will not be laid off until they decide to retire or leave DepEd.
He said 7,793 regular items are affected by the change. Since 5,213 items are vacant, “the net affected are 2,580 items.”
The DepEd employees union itself has no objections to the agency’s ongoing nationwide personnel reorganization.
The DepEd National Employees Union (DepEd-NEU) contradicted claims of two teachers’ groups that the agency’s rationalization plan will result in the mass layoff of administrative personnel.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition both denounced the department’s implementation of a reorganization, which they said would displace thousands of personnel.
“They should read [the Rationalization Plan] first. If there will be a mass layoff, I myself will fight the management,” said lawyer Domingo Alidon, president of the DepEd-NEU.—With a report from Dona Z. Pazzibugan