ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro on Thursday lauded the Department of Education’s decision to reimburse the communication expenses of teachers.

The DepEd order granting teachers a P300 communication allowance per month will be retroactive and covers the period March 16 to December 2020.

“Though short of the initial demand for the P1,500 internet allowance that we proposed, this is still an initial gain for our education frontliners,” Castro said.

“Ipinapakita lamang ng inisyal na tagumpay na ito na kung gusto, maaari talagang gawan ng paraan ng ating pamahalaan na maibigay ang sapat na benepisyo at mga allowance na hinihingi natin para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga trabaho. Kung hindi pa nag-ingay ang mga kaguruan at mga kawani, baka hinayaan na namang mula sa kanilang sariling mga bulsa ang gastos sa internet,” the lawmaker added.

She noted that the DepEd repeatedly cited the lack of legal basis for providing internet allowance for teachers and education support personnel.

Castro urged leaders of Congress to provide adequate funds for internet allowance and teaching supplies allowance of teachers.