SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pressed the government to uphold the health and welfare of teachers who will resume their duties next week.

The senator said that since the DepEd proposal to provide financial aid to teachers who will test positive for Covid19 was rejected, the department should at least secure a fast lane with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation so that teachers who fall sick can secure help with dispatch.

Gatchalian said that a special arrangement with PhilHealth — such as the creation of a special lane at the very least — would be the quickest way to provide relief to teachers.

“I recommend that DepEd work with PhilHealth, kahit na special lane lang. I think that will be a big help dahil masakit iyong reimbursement type, pay first and then they get reimbursement. Pero alam naman natin that reimbursement takes time. Some of the reimbursement takes two months or three months. In fact, if you don’t follow it up, it will take forever,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

“Our teachers need to feel special because they are also doing special work at this time,” he added.

Gatchalian assured DepEd that he will push for amendments that will give authorization on the provision of assistance to personnel getting infected with Covid19.