SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday urged the Department of Education to uphold the welfare of teachers as the National Capital Region and nearby provinces were again placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

Teachers should have access to Covid19 testing and treatment should they fall ill with the coronavirus, he said.

“Sa kabila ng muling pagtaas ng kaso ng Covid19 at ngayong nagsisimula na ang ating vaccination program, hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga guro at kawaning nagsasakripisyo upang maipagpatuloy ang edukasyon sa gitna ng pandemya,” Gatchalian said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture reiterated the need to move teachers up in the priority list for Covid19 vaccination.

Last year, the DepEd said that teachers and other employees are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for Covid19 hospitalization and treatment.

The Employees’ Compensation Commission also provides medical and other health benefits in the event of work-related sickness, injury, or death.

Gatchalian however said that these programs have to be cascaded down to teachers and non-teaching staff to boost their morale.