THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday appealed for patience to the public-school teachers who have yet to receive the World Teachers Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB), noting that the delay may be due to the quarantine status in their respective areas.
According to Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla, the Department had processed the payment in the amount of P1,000 each as early as August and started releasing the incentive by October 5 as required by the budget law.
“For those experiencing delay it would be probably because of their quarantine status, banking hours, remittance of the cash payment but they need not worry because October 5 is the start of the payouts, but the processing, we started as early as August,” Sevilla said.
The DepEd, however, did not provide the number of teachers who have yet to get their allowance. Introduced during the term of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and supported by President Duterte, the WTDIB acknowledges the crucial role of educators during the pandemic and their dedication and commitment to their profession. “During the World Teachers Day we really give gifts to our teachers of P1,000 each and this amounted to P910,000,000 which is due all our teachers and staff on this very important day,” Briones said.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, Project Management, and External Partnerships Tonisito Umali said a celebratory program was held on October 5 in Lahug, Cebu, to commemorate the World and National Teachers’ Day.
For the first time, higher education institution teachers, including professors in colleges and universities and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority instructors, were encouraged to join the event.
By virtue of Presidential Proclamation 242, the National Teachers’ Month runs from September 5 to October 5 of every year.