SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday called on the government anew to uphold the welfare of teachers following the death of five Department of Education personnel in Isabela.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture said protecting teachers entails the strict enforcement of the alternative work arrangement, the assurance of access to Covid19 testing, treatment for those who contract the virus, and the prioritization of teachers in the vaccination program.

“Habang patuloy ang pagtaas ng mga kaso ng Covid19 sa bansa, lalong dapat paigtingin ng DepEd ang pag-aalaga sa ating mga gurong isinasakripisyo ang kanilang kaligtasan at kalusugan upang maipagpatuloy ng ating mga kabataan ang kanilang pag-aaral. Kailangang tiyakin sa ating mga guro na may agarang tulong na maipapaabot sa kanila kung sakaling sila ay magkasakit,” Gatchalian said.

DepEd gave assurances that its personnel are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

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

The School Division Office in Isabela earlier said that it reached out to the grieving families to provide assistance and facilitate the expeditious release of benefits.

DepEd claimed that the five personnel acquired the virus through community transmission.

Teachers’ groups have been clamoring for financial assistance to personnel who get sick with Covid19, claiming that teachers who got infected did not receive financial assistance from the government.

Gatchalian said that teachers should be given vaccination priority.

“Teachers should be in the A4 priority list with the frontline personnel of other essential sectors,” he said.

The Senate’ Adopted Resolution No. 92, which Gatchalian sponsored, seeking the prioritization of teachers in the Covid19 vaccination program.