DepEd admitted that the COVID-19 treatment funding for teachers is not included in the department’s budget.
COVID-19 treatment funding
During the online conference facilitated by the Department of Education last Monday, Usec Anne Sevilla answered one interesting question from the reporters.
“Does a COVID-19 treatment funding exist to assist teachers that might contact the virus?”
According to Usec Sevilla, admittedly, the expenses listed under the department’s budget does not include any hospitalization assistance for teachers. It goes as well with other government agencies, and always have been.
However, the Department of Education Finance Undersecretary Anne Sevilla mentioned a financial program funded by collective contributions from everyone under the DepEd. This goes for any teacher or personnel who wishes to get treatment from a private hospital instead of the mandatory treatment in general hospitals. Teachers are also covered by the hospitalization assistance provided by PhilHealth.
The only government agency that can release funding for hospitalization expenses is the Department of Health. The Department of Education is one with other government agencies that are calling the Department of Budget and Management and Commission of Audit to allow government agencies access to funding intended for the medical purposes of their employees.
Activist group slams DepEd for lack of assistance
Head and spokesperson of activist group Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Raymond Basilio claims that a number of teachers acquired the virus from physically reporting to schools while in preparation for the reopening of schools scheduled for August 24.
Claims have not yet been verified and both DepEd and Basilio have no data to support or negate such claim.
One thing is certain, physical classes are not allowed as classes resume in the Philippines. Despite the high case of the COVID-19 in the country, blended learning will less likely contribute to another spike in transmission.
