August 21, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers will receive P7,000 medical allowance annually starting next year, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.
The increase in medical allowance is mandated under President Marcos’ Executive Order (EO) 64, which increases the salary and benefits of government workers.
Under the EO, the government will provide an annual medical allowance of up to P7,000 to eligible government civilian personnel, including public school teachers.
“This significant increase from the P500 medical examination allowance provided in 2020 marks a substantial enhancement in support for teachers’ health and well-being,” the DepEd said, stressing that the allowance is intended to subsidize the cost of health maintenance organization-type benefits.
The P500 medical allowance was intended to cover the cost of eligible diagnostic tests, as outlined in DepEd Order 28, Series of 2020.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the 1,300-percent increase in the medical allowance could help teachers secure comprehensive insurance coverage.
At his first flag-raising ceremony at the DepEd last month, Angara vowed to expand the health care benefits of all DepEd employees nationwide.
Among the measures he is eyeing are placing on-call doctors at all DepEd offices nationwide.
Apart from the medical allowance, public school teachers shall also receive P5,000 tax-free teaching allowance for school year 2024-2025 under the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.
This allowance will increase to P10,000 starting in SY 2025-2026 and beyond.
The DepEd also reminded all teaching and non-teaching personnel that they are eligible to file claims under the Government Service Insurance System-issued Personal Accident Insurance policy, which provides coverage for accidental death or dismemberment up to P100,000 and medical reimbursement up to P30,000 for injuries.
Teachers’ exodus
Meanwhile, public school teachers may remain overworked for the foreseeable future due to the rate at which teachers leave the country yearly, leaving schools understaffed despite the growing student population, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) warned yesterday.
The TDC said it was alarmed by data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which showed an average of 1,500 Filipino teachers leaving the country annually over the past three years.
“The number might be even higher in 2024. This is alarming because we might eventually run out of teachers in the Philippines,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said.
The group said it is “heartbreaking” to see teachers leave the country reluctantly in pursuit of better working conditions abroad.
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