THE DEPARTMENT of Education has released funds allotted for public school teachers’ annual medical examination  and World Teachers’ Day Incentive, Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said.

During the Handang Isip, Handa Bukas press conference on Friday, Sevilla reported that the P500 medical allowance and the P1,000 WTDIB of each teacher were released by the Central Office on September 16 and 18, 2020, respectively.

“But we have to understand na marami po sa atin mga kasamahan na mga guro na maraming nagtatanong kung bakit iba ay nakatanggap, yung iba ay hindi pa. Kasi po ang proseso ng pagrelease nito ay dadaan sa kanilang payroll. So ibig sabihin, from Central Office on September 16 and September 18, [makakarating muna] ng Regional Office, to their Division Office, then to their payroll,” Sevilla said.

The DepEd also shared that the October 2020 payroll has been expedited as ordered by Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

Sevilla said that as of October 22, almost 90 percent of the total salaries had been paid.

“Dati po ng mga nakaraang buwan, mas maaga po iyan kaya lang nagkaroon po tayo ng mga adjustments in the payroll system dahil ‘yun pong mga loan payments have been implemented. Nagkaroon po tayo ng gap o moratorium or grace period depende sa kung anong in-allow ng lending institution kaya mas malaki ang net take home pay kasi po magpapahinga po sa pagbabayad ng loan for the next 60 days,” Sevilla said.

Meanwhile, she mentioned that the latest budget proposal for the 2021 National Expenditure Program was approved on second reading by the House of Representatives last October 15, 2020.

She also reported that the department’s targeted budget request of P1.1 trillion was trimmed to P605.7 billion (55 percent) from its initial request.