Public school teachers will receive a total of P1,500 in October – P1,000 as cash incentive for World Teachers’ Day and a P500-medical allowance, Education Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said on Wednesday, September 30.

“We downloaded [the funds] from the central office to regional office already. They may process the payment immediately for the annual medical exam. World Teachers’ Day incentive may be paid not earlier than October 5,” Sevilla told Rappler in a Viber message.

In a memorandum signed by Education Secretary Leonor Briones dated September 23, the Department of Education said that the P500 medical allowance “aims to supplement the budget for the medical examination expenses of our public school teachers amid the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19.”

On August 24, DepEd said that 823 of its personnel and students contracted the coronavirus disease.

Teachers’ anxieties over the opening of school only worsened when DepEd said it has no budget allotted for the treatment of teachers who contract COVID-19. (READ: No budget for treatment of teachers with coronavirus – DepEd official)

Sevilla, however, noted that all government employees, including DepEd employees, are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

She added that DepEd employees who opted to be treated in private hospitals, also got DepEd assistance – “not from the government funds but from the personal contributions and collective efforts of the DepEd family.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, DepEd would be implementing a distance learning approach when classes start on October 5. – Rappler.com