BY IME SORNITO AND GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO – The Department of Education (DepEd) mulls giving employees their wages two times in a month, or every 15th and 30th of the month.
This, according to DepEd’s Memorandum OUF-2021-0703, will provide “ample time” for the processing of Form 7 and other salaries/employees profile adjustments to be submitted by the schools divisions.
In Western Visayas, the salaries of teaching and non-teaching personnel are released every 21st of the month.
“The purpose is good since they are looking after the welfare of teachers, for them not to be eaten by loan sharks,” said Lovella Enorio, principal of Bololacao Elementary School in New Lucena town.
Enorio cited DepEd’s undersecretary for finance, Annalyn Sevilla’s statement that the twice a month salary release is also a “strategy of insulating teachers from being compelled to taking out loans” from the lending institutions.
However, according to Enorio, teachers receiving net take-home pay at the threshold “found it hard to adjust the budget and payment to existing loans.”
“For those who have more than enough, then it might be okay for them,” said Enorio, who was already in 26 years in the service.
She said, at the moment, teachers “don’t need” the splitting of salary semimonthly but “upgrading and increase.”
“Prime commodities right now are too expensive, and so they also need to consider our cry,” Enorio added.
Nonetheless, she shared that amid the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, teachers are being flexible to keep quality education on the line.
“From writing plans to printing modules… from direct instruction to adopting and embracing technology, we embrace our work with so much pride,” Enorio said.
“So far, at this point we are enjoying our work. But of course we also see to it that our health is our topmost priority,” she added.
Meanwhile, according to Mike of Calinog, the semimonthly pay may not be favorable for them.
“I’m not in favor sa 15th and 30th nga releasing kay ngaa? Naka-budget na ang para sa isa ka bulan. Labi na gid sa kon ang imo net sang imo salary gamay na lang ti kon tungaon pa budlay gid,” he said.
He was also worried about the difficulty in traveling to the town proper to withdraw cash.
“Kon layo ang imo ginhalinan mapa-banwa ka pa…uyang pa sa plete kag oras,” he said.
For him, a salary increase is much necessary, especially for them working in the middle of a pandemic.
“Grabe gid ang obra subong sang mga teachers ilabi na gid paper works kag ang mga baraklon bisan basic needs tama ka mahal. Kon may ginapa-eskwela ka nga bata, tama gid ka kulang sang sweldo,” he added.
Emma, a public school teacher in Miag-ao, said she is content with the current releasing of salary. “Kon 15th and 30th magastos pa naman ilabi na nga madamo man sa amon ang may loan,” she said.
Emma is not losing hope that their salaries be increased.
According to Emma, it is inevitable that they will have to spend their personal money as they print modules and pay for the internet monthly.
Rhen Pelenia, 36, a teacher for 10 years, meanwhile sees the new scheme as an advantage.
“Daw indi ka na mabudlayan mag-budget,” said Pelenia.
Teacher Elna Almodiente, 37, agreed.
“Manami man sia para indi na kami kapangutang kay kis-a indi na kalab-ot sa sweldo,” said Almodiente, a teacher for 13 years.
On the other hand, officials from DepEd in Region 6 are waiting for official guidelines.
“Ang ina nga mandato in terms of salary release, salary schedule sang aton mga manunudlo is within the control sang DepEd-central office. Kita diri sa DepEd-6 nagahulat kita sa kon ano ang mangin guidelines kag ma-implement gid lang sa kon ano ang ginahatag sini,” said Hernani Escullar, Jr., information officer of DepEd-6, in interview with Panay News.
DepEd-6 has 83,177 teaching and non-teaching personnel./PN
