Gatchalian on celebrating National Teachers' Month: address teachers' concerns, fears on class reopening

Addressing the concerns of teachers amid uncertainties in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic is the best way to celebrate National Teachers' Month. For Senator Win Gatchalian, this is the most meaningful way to observe the month-long celebration which culminates on October 5, coinciding with the official school opening.

Gatchalian reiterated that addressing the health care needs of teachers should be a top priority to ensure the successful implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) under the dire consequences of the coronavirus. According to Gatchalian, teachers should be assured of healthcare support, including coverage for hospitalization, medication, and treatment, should they test positive for COVID-19. Without this assurance, they will lack confidence to perform their duties and the Learning Continuity Plan will fail, the senator warned.

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier assured that while its 2020 budget does not have allocations for COVID-19 treatment, teachers and non-teaching staff are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) like all government employees. To ensure that their needs are immediately addressed, however, Gatchalian urged DepEd to formalize a partnership with the state insurer in putting up a "special lane."

Though DepEd is already in talks with PhilHealth, the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the senator said it is crucial to finalize and roll out these partnerships before the opening of classes. He pointed out that since teachers will be distributing self-learning modules and risking their safety when face-to-face classes resume, they are vulnerable to getting infected with COVID-19.

"Nakita natin ang malasakit nila sa mga estudyante at pagmamahal sa kanilang propesyon. Mayroon pa sa kanilang gumagasta mula sa sariling bulsa upang may maipambili lang ng ilang kagamitan para sa blended learning. Nararapat lamang na magbigay-pugay tayo sa mga guro ngayong National Teachers' Month," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

"Ang mga guro ay parang mga sundalong ipapadala natin sa digmaan. Kung hindi natin sisiguruhin ang kanilang kaligtasan, mawawalan sila ng kumpiyansa at hindi tayo magtatagumpay sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning," he added.

Latest DepEd figures show (August 23) that 823 DepEd personnel and learners contracted COVID-19, 310 of which are active cases, 23 have died, and 490 have recovered. Out of these cases, 297 are learners, 340 are teachers, and 186 are non-teaching personnel.

Gatchalian also sought the smooth distribution of cash-assistance to displaced teaching and non-teaching personnel from public and private schools, which is mandated under Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2.

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Kapakanan ng mga guro dapat tutukan ngayong National Teachers' Month-Gatchalian

Pangangalaga sa kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mga guro. Para kay Senador Win Gatchalian, ito ang pinakamakabuluhang paraan upang ipagdiwang ang National Teachers' Month na magpapatuloy hanggang sa ika-5 ng Oktubre, ang petsa ng World Teacher's Day at opisyal na pagbubukas ng klase ngayong taon.

Ayon sa mambabatas, dapat bigyang prayoridad ang mga pangangailangang pang-kalusugan ng mga guro upang masiguro ang matagumpay na pagpapatupad ng Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan sa kabila ng patuloy na banta ng COVID-19. Ayon kay Gatchalian, dapat natututukan at natutugunan ang pagpapagamot ng mga guro, lalo na kung nagpositibo sila sa COVID-19.

Bagama't hindi saklaw ng 2020 budget ang pagpapagamot ng COVID-19, tiniyak naman ng Department of Education o DepEd na makatatanggap ng mga benepisyo mula sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation o PhilHealth ang mga guro tulad ng ibang mga kawani ng pamahalaan. Dagdag ng DepEd, nakikipag-ugnayan na rin sila sa PhilHealth, Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC), at Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) upang matugunan ang kapakanan ng mga guro.

Mahalaga ani Gatchalian na maisapinal na ang mga ugnayang ito bago magsimula ang klase. Paliwanag ng senador, maaaring malagay sa panganib ang kalusugan ng mga guro pag nagsimula na silang magpamahagi ng mga self-learning modules.

"Nakita natin ang malasakit nila sa mga estudyante at pagmamahal sa kanilang propesyon. Mayroon pa sa kanilang gumagasta mula sa sariling bulsa upang may maipambili lang ng ilang kagamitan para sa blended learning. Nararapat lamang na magbigay-pugay tayo sa mga guro ngayong National Teachers' Month," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

"Ang mga guro ay parang mga sundalong ipapadala natin sa digmaan. Kung hindi natin sisiguruhin ang kanilang kaligtasan, mawawalan sila ng kumpiyansa at hindi tayo magtatagumpay sa pagpapatupad ng distance learning," dagdag pa niya.

Batay sa datos ng DepEd, mahigit walong daang (823) mga mag-aaaral at kawani ng DepEd ang nag-positibo sa COVID-19 noong Agosto 23. Dalawampu't tatlo (23) rito ang namatay, mahigit tatlong-daan (310) ang maituturing na mga "active cases" at halos limang daan (490) ang gumaling. Sa mga nabanggit na kaso, halos tatlong daan (297) ay mga mag-aaral, tatlong-daan at apatnapu (340) ay mga guro, at isang daan at walumpu (186) naman ay mga non-teaching personnel.

Hinimok din ni Gatchalian ang pamahalaan na agad ipamahagi ang cash assistance sa mga guro at non-teaching personnel na nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic. Ang naturang ayuda para sa mga guro at non-teaching personnel ay bahagi ng Bayanihan to Recover As One Act o Bayanihan 2.