AN official of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said that National Budget Circular 514, Series of 2007 has been amended, granting higher Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) to eligible teachers and school heads following the issuance of Joint Circular 1, Series of 2021 by the agency and the Department of Budget and Management.
“Ibig sabihin, hindi na kailangan mag-submit ng mga [This means, there is no need to submit] documents to claim the Special Hardship Allowance because DBM and DepEd agreed to issue new criteria for our [Special] Hardship Allowance,” Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said.
Under the new guidelines, qualified teachers would only have to submit their daily time record as supporting document to avail of the said allowance.
Sevilla noted that the issuance also increased the amount of SHA, from 15 percent to 25 percent of the monthly basic salary of personnel assigned in hardship posts.
The grant of SHA is given monthly to classroom teachers in elementary and secondary schools and school heads or administrators exposed to extreme difficulties and hazards, such as difficulty in commuting to the place of work.
Teachers in pure multi-grade schools, mobile teachers, and non-formal education or Alternative Learning System coordinators can also avail of SHA.
Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, meanwhile, said that they continue to honor their personnel, especially those who are in remote areas by “addressing their concerns and providing their necessities according to their hard work.”
“We proposed to lessen their burden by not asking for too many requirements to claim this allowances,” Briones said.
“In these trying times, we salute the passion of our teachers who continuously deliver education to their learners, wherever they are. In this regard, as our Filipino educators commit to their duty, we are dedicated to prioritize their protection against any potential harm,” Briones stated.