Groups urge DepEd to give assistance to COVID-19 infected workers

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide necessary assistance to personnel who have contracted COVID-19.

Along with the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, the number of teachers affected by the disease continues to increase,

said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio also expressed his concern over the growing number of teachers and their family members who got infected during the new surge of coronavirus.

Not a few have succumbed to the disease and are deep in debt as their salaries cannot afford them proper medical treatment,

he added.

Meanwhile, Basas said based on TDC’s monitoring that there are varying reasons as to why many are exposed to the virus. He said that some may have been infected through local transmissions in their community, at home and even in their own workplace which is the school.

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Nevertheless, he said that no teacher ever wanted to be infected by the virus as they were only just fulfilling their duties by going to school or attending face-to-face seminars or meetings. With this, DepEd whom they work for should also be held responsible when one of their personnel gets infected.

But sadly, DepEd does not seem to be ready to provide assistance to its teachers and staff who are infected with COVID-19, whether or not it is related to work,

Basas said.

He added that the assistance given to the personnel who get sick comes from their own contributions or personal help from some officials and not from DepEd.

It seems that support is not an obligation but only an option, but the generosity of those who want to help… Charity has become what should have been the responsibility and mandate of the government according to law,

Basas said.

Besides urging DepEd to be responsible in providing their personnel and their families with financial assistance, TDC and ACT are also asking DepEd to ensure free medical services to those who were infected in accordance with the provisions of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670).