ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro reminded the Department of Education that it is mandated under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to provide free medical treatment or hospitalization for educators in case they get infected with Covid19.

“Now more than ever, the Department of Education must ensure that this provision in the Magna Carta for Public School teachers is met as plans to reopen schools amid the Covid19 pandemic start,” Castro said.

Castro added that since the enactment of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers in 1966, the provision that mandates the government to provide for the free medical treatment and/or hospitalization of public school teachers remained underfunded and placed under PhilHealth.

Though there are services offered by PhilHealth, this clearly does not meet RA 4670’s mandate of free health care for public school teachers as PhilHealth is not free but in exchange for monthly contributions.

Section 22 of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers entitled ‘Medical Examination and Treatment’ provides that public school teachers should undergo free compulsory medical examination before employment and should undergo free medical check-up at least once a year.

“The DepEd cannot simply say that public school teachers are already covered by PhilHealth and not find any other way to protect teachers who would get sick from further financial burden. Pinabayaan na ng DepEd ang mga guro na gumastos para sa sariling mga personal protective equipment para maprotektahan sila tuwing mayroong distribution ng mga module, hahayaan pa nila ang mga guro  sakaling magkasakit si teacher dahil sa Covid,” Castro stated.

“Kung si teacher ay mayroon lamang P5,000 net take home pay, saan siya kukuha ng pambayad para sa pagpapagamot ng sakit? Ngayong panahon na may pagbabanta na hindi muna ituloy ang payout ng PhilHealth dahil sa sandamakmak na kaso ng korupsiyon, saan kukuha ang simpleng guro na may pamilya ring inaasikaso ng pambayad ng gastusin sa ospital kung sakaling magkasakit siya ngayong nasa gitna ang bansa sa tumitinding pandemiya?” Castro asked.

The lady solon said it is high time that the DepEd gave public school teachers free compulsory medical examination before employment, free medical check-up at least once a year and free medical treatment and/or hospitalization and simply placed under the PhilHealth.