THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday assured that the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) of public school teachers for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 will be released despite the issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 61, which mandates a review of the Result-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS) and the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS).

The assurance was made by DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during a forum with the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), led by its chairperson Benjo Basas, according to a DBM news release.

The historic first meeting between the DBM and the TDC went over the status of the PBB for FY 2022, the impact of EO 61 on the PBB and Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), the results of the DBM-GCG (Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations) studies, and developments on proposed salary increase for FY 2024.

The meeting was a significant step to address concerns on teacher salary hikes and incentives after the TDC urgently sought clarification on these issues in a letter sent to Pangandaman last July 4.

During the meeting, Pangandaman assured that DBM is working closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) to solve implementation issues related to the PBB, and ensure that all necessary requirements are met for the bonus distribution.

These include the validation of the submitted Form 1.0 for inclusion of personnel not reflected in the Department’s Personnel Services Itemization and Plantilla of Personnel (PSIPOP), incorrect information, and duplicate records, among others.

To date, Form 1.0 submissions from eight DepEd Regional Offices – National Capital Region, Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas — were returned for the DepEd’s revision and validation.

“We must understand that the sheer size and complex structure of DepEd inherently complicates the process,” Pangandaman said.

“Napaka-tedious ng requirements ngayon, napakadaming dokumento. Timely po na ma-review natin ang components and submissions natin sa PBB (The current requirements are tedious, there are lots of documents. It is timely that we review the components and submissions for the PBB). We will endeavor to streamline this process,” she added.

Under Executive Order No. 61, the DBM evaluates the RBPMS and PBIS to make the process less burdensome and more effective.

Pangandaman said the changes shall align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’ s Socioeconomic Agenda, the government’s ease of doing business initiatives, the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, and international standards.

Meanwhile, the DBM said the budget allocation for the FY 2024 PEI has been fully released to the DepEd since January of this year.

On the anticipated salary increase for civilian government employees, including public school teachers, the DBM said funds for the salary adjustment have been earmarked in the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act.

The DBM said a new study on compensation and benefits is underway to guide future salary tunings. This study aims to create a competitive, sustainable, fair pay structure for government employees.

It said several options will be presented to President Marcos for the purpose, while specific details regarding implementation dates and proposed rates are still being finalized.

Pangandaman assured the TDC of the DBM’s willingness to address their needs.

“I hope we can do this [meeting] regularly para magkaron po tayo ng updates at solusyon sa mga issues (so that we can have updates and solutions to all issues). The DBM is open [to discussing] lahat po ng inyong pangangailangan (all of your needs). We will endeavor to solve whatever problem to the best of our abilities,” she said.

The TDC lauded and thanked Pangandaman for her immediate response to their request for a meeting.

“Thank you po dahil (because) it’s the first time we had a dialogue with the DBM Secretary. Una po kasi, Usec and Asecs po ang humaharap sa ‘min (Before, we only met Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries). We appreciate the gesture,” Basas said.

“Nakapagsalita ‘yung mga tao (Individuals were able to speak). [The meeting was] democratic, and nabigyan po talaga kami ng space ni Secretary mismo na, makapagsalita at makapagpahayag ng aming hinaing. With the aid of the Usecs and Asecs, right away meron mga sagot sa aming queries (the Secretary personally gave us space to speak and ventilate our concerns. With the aid of Usecs and Asecs, our queries were immediately answered),” he said. (PNA)