No basis to give teachers internet or load allowance- DepEd

Teachers has appealed for an additional cash aid to be used for internet utilization, but an official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Friday that there is still no basis to provide an extra allowance for such purpose.

Photo credit: philnews.ph

Due to the health crisis situation in the country brought by Covid-19 pandemic, DepEd will implement Blended Learning for this academic year. Teachers need to perform their task at home via online using the internet, sending text messages, or making calls.

For students’ online learning, teachers are also expected to hold classes using the internet. With additional costs for using technology, teachers have been requesting for a separate allowance from DepEd.

Although, DepEd also recognizes the need to provide additional cash for this purpose, DepEd Spokesperson and Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said that there is no basis to give internet or load allowance for now.

Sevilla added that DepEd is still coordinating with Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the “adjustment and policy guideline that we can use to reprogram our plan and budget to accommodate funding for this need.”

For the moment, Sevilla noted that DepEd has already released the Cash Allowance for eligible public school teachers. Since June, the cash allowance given per eligible teachers is 3,500. The cash allowance is formerly the Chalk Allowance. It is usually given to public teachers before the school opening of every year.

For this year, DepEd issued guidelines where a provision specifically citing that the needs of teachers as they prepare for the implementation of the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) will be covered by the cash allowance.

As defined by Department of Education, Cash Allowance shall cover the expenses of teachers for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, tangible or intangible, for the implementation or conduct of various modes of learning delivery.