Gatchalian wants immediate financial aid for COVID-19 treatment of teachers, staff

With classes set to open amid the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant, Senator Win Gatchalian is pressing the national government to uphold the welfare of teachers, especially those falling ill with COVID-19.

Gatchalian's call came after Department of Education (DepED) Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla raised concerns in a public hearing that the agency proposed financial assistance for school personnel who will get infected with the coronavirus disease for School Year 2021-2022 but was not considered in the 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

DepEd explained that under the national budget, it is not authorized to spend for the treatment of personnel who test positive for COVID-19. DepEd personnel, however, can avail of packages from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) should they get infected.

While Gatchalian acknowledges that Congress can amend the proposed 2022 budget to consider DepEd's proposal, he said that a special arrangement with PhilHealth---such as the creation of a special lane at the very least---would be the quickest way to provide relief to teachers.

"I recommend that DepEd work with PhilHealth, kahit na special lane lang. I think that will be a big help dahil masakit iyong reimbursement type, pay first and then they get reimbursement. Pero alam naman natin that reimbursement takes time. Some of the reimbursement takes two months or three months. In fact, if you don't follow it up, it will take forever," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

"Our teachers need to feel special because they are also doing special work at this time," he added.

Gatchalian assured DepEd that in the crafting of the 2022 budget, he will push for amendments that will give authorization on the provision of assistance to personnel getting infected with COVID-19.

Since the implementation of the distance learning program, teachers' groups have been lamenting the lack of financial assistance from the education department for teachers and staff who test positive for the coronavirus.

Aside from the Php 5,000 cash allowance in June, a Special Hardship Allowance (SHA), which is 25% of the teachers' monthly basic salary, is expected to be given ahead of school opening.

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Gatchalian isinusulong ang agarang tulong pinansyal sa mga guro, kawaning nahawaan ng COVID-19

Habang nalalapit ang pagbubukas ng klase sa gitna ng patuloy na pagkalat ng Delta variant, hinihimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pamahalaan na tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mga guro, lalo na iyong mga nahawa o mahahawa sa COVID-19.

Sa isang pandinig sa Senado, ibinahagi ni Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla na nagpanukala ang ahensya ng pondo upang makapagbigay ng tulong pinansyal sa mga school personnel na nagka-COVID-19. Sa kabila nito, ang panukalang pondo ay hindi nakasama sa 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Paliwanag ng DepEd, wala itong authorization na gumasta para sa pagpapagamot ng mga school personnel na nagkasakit dahil sa COVID-19. Ngunit ayon sa ahensya, ang mga guro at kawani ng DepEd na mahahawaan ng sakit ay maaaring makatanggap ng tulong pinansyal mula sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Bagama't maaaring amyendahan ng Kongreso ang panukalang 2022 budget upang mapagbigyan ang kahilingan ng DepEd, hinimok ni Gatchalian ang DepEd at PhilHealth na bumuo ng special lane para sa mga guro. Ayon sa senador, ito ang pinakamabilis na paraan upang matulungan ang mga guro.

"Ang aking rekomendasyon ay makipagtulungan ang DepEd sa PhilHealth na gumawa kahit ng special lane lang para sa ating mga guro. Malaking tulong na ito dahil masakit ang reimbursement, kung saan mag-aabono ka muna bago mo matanggap ang inaasahan mong tulong. Alam nating matagal pa bago matanggap ang reimbursement. Minsan inaabot ng dalawa o tatlong buwan. Kung walang follow-up, lalo pang tumatagal," pahayag ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

"Kailangang maramdaman ng mga guro na espesyal sila dahil espesyal ang ginagawa nila sa panahong ito," dagdag na pahayag ng senador.

Tiniyak ng mambabatas na sa pagrepaso ng panukalang 2022 budget, magsusulong siya ng mga amendments upang magkaroon ang DepEd ng authorization na magbigay ng tulong pinansyal sa mga personnel na mahahawa ng COVID-19.

Simula noong ipatupad ang distance learning, inirereklamo na ng mga pangkat ng mga guro ang kawalan ng tulong pinansyal para sa kanila at kawaning nagkakasakit dahil sa COVID-19.

Maliban sa cash allowance na limang libong piso (P5,000) na ipinagkaloob noong Hunyo, inaprubahan na noong Mayo ang pagtaas sa Special Hardship Allowance (SHA) na ngayon ay katumbas na ng dalawampu't limang porsyento (25%) ng buwanang sahod ng mga guro.

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