THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers asked the Department of Education to revoke the imposition of 15-day per year limit on the grant of service credits.

Vladimer Quetua, the group’s national chairperson, said that there should be no limitation in granting service credits since there is no limit in the number of tasks given to teachers.

“Granting this is both justified and humane as this is in compensation for our extra days of work and duties rendered,” Quetua said.

On September 30, 2021, former Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 65, s. 2021 suspending the implementation of DO No. 53, s. 2003 to allow the full grant of the Service Credits earned of all teachers.

However, for School Year 2022-2023, the annual limit on the number of service credits that teachers can earn was reimposed.

“Makatarungan ang permanenteng pagtatanggal nitong limit sa service credits sapagkat marami tayong natatanggap na reports at complaints na hindi kinikilala ng kanilang Division offices ang buo nilang service credits. Nasasayang lamang ang mga araw na inilaan namin upang magsilbi dahil sa muling panunumbalik nitong implementasyon ng hindi makaguro at hindi makataong polisiya,” Quetua said.

“Nananawagan kami sa DepEd na bigyang prayoridad ang agarang pagpapatanggal nitong 15-day service credit limit. Matagal na kaming binabalewala ng gobyero dahil sa mababang sahod at sobrang delayed na benepisyo. Panahon na para tumbasan ng makatarungang polisiya ang serbisyong binibigay ng mga guro,” he added.