Metro Manila, Philippines – Over one million teachers and personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) may benefit from a higher service incentive pay beginning Dec. 20, the agency said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the raise from P18,000 to P20,000. In a press release, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said this will be the first time education personnel will receive the maximum incentive allowed.“This is a historic moment for DepEd, as we are able to grant the highest SRI ever for our workforce. We are deeply grateful to President Marcos Jr. for his steadfast support in prioritizing the welfare of teachers and staff who serve as the backbone of the education sector,” he said.The agency said the higher service recognition incentive (SRI) fund will be downloaded to regional offices after the release of a budget circular and DepEd memorandum.Meanwhile, a teacher group earlier welcomed the president’s order, but has also demanded a tax-free SRI for education personnel.“We challenge him to back his words with action by ensuring full and tax-free SRI for teachers, who shoulder the heaviest burdens of the ongoing learning crisis. The government must abandon its practice of granting incentives based solely on the education agency’s savings,” Vladimer Quetua, chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said in a press release.
