In a historic first, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary met with the Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC), represented by its chapter presidents and led by TDC Chairman Benjo Basas, taking significant steps to address concerns on teacher salary hikes and incentives.

 

The forum, presided over by DBM Secretary Amenah “Mina” Pangandaman, went over the status of the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for FY 2022, the impact of Executive Order No. 61 on the PBB and Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), the results of the DBM-GCG (Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations) studies, and developments on proposed salary increase for FY 2024.

 

To allay fears of the country's educators, the DBM assured that despite the issuance of Executive Order No. 61, which mandates a review of the Result-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS) and the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS), the release of the PBB for FYs 2022 and 2023 will still push through.

 

Director Gerald Janda of the DBM Organization, Position and Classification and Compensation Bureau (OPCCB) conveyed that close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) for its FY 2022 PBB is being undertaken to facilitate the process, i.e., validation of the submitted Form 1.0 for inclusion of personnel not reflected in the Department’s Personnel Services Itemization and Plantilla of Personnel (PSIPOP), incorrect information, and duplicate records, among others.  

 

To date, Form 1.0 submissions from eight (8) DepEd Regional Offices, namely, NCR, Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Western Visayas, were returned for the DepEd’s revision and validation.

 

“We must understand that the sheer size and complex structure of DepEd inherently complicates the process,” Secretary Mina explained.

 

The DBM will work closely with the DepEd to solve implementation issues related to the PBB and ensure that all necessary requirements are met for the bonus distribution.

 

“Napaka-tedious ng requirements ngayon. Napakadaming dokumento. Timely po na ma-review natin ang components and submissions naten sa PBB. We will endeavor to streamline this process.” Sec. Mina added.

 

Under Executive Order No. 61, the DBM evaluates the RBPMS and PBIS to make the process less burdensome and more effective. Changes shall align with the government's ease of doing business initiatives, the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, PBBM's Socioeconomic Agenda, and international standards.

 

TDC Chair Benjo Basas, meanwhile, announced that the Coalition intends to submit a proposal to revive the previous simplified performance appraisal system for teachers.

 

On the other hand, the budget allocation for the FY 2024 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) has been fully released to the DepEd since January of this year.

 

On the anticipated salary increase for civilian government employees, including public school teachers, the DBM confirmed that funds for the salary adjustment have been earmarked in the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act.

 

A new study on compensation and benefits is underway to guide future salary tunings. This study aims to create a competitive, sustainable, fair pay structure for government employees.

 

Several options will be presented to the President for the purpose. Specific details regarding implementation dates and proposed rates are still being finalized.

 

"Thank you po dahil it’s the first time we had a dialogue with the DBM Secretary. Una po kasi, Usec and Asecs po ang humaharap sa 'min. We appreciate the gesture," expressed TDC Chair Benjo Basas.

 

“Nakapagsalita 'yung mga tao. [the meeting was] democratic, and nabigyan po talaga kami ng space ni Secretary mismo na, makapagsalita at makapagpahayag ng aming hinaing. With the aid of the Usecs and Asecs, right away meron mga sagot sa aming queries,” TDC Chair Basas expressed, lauding the responsiveness of  Secretary Pangandaman.

 

Sec. Pangandaman assured TDC of the DBM’s willingness to address their needs. “I hope we can do this [meeting] regularly para magkaron po tayo ng updates at solusyon sa mga issues. The DBM is open [to discussing] lahat po ng inyong pangangailangan. We will endeavor to solve whatever problem to the best of our abilities.”

 

15 July 2024

 

Sa isang makasaysayang unang pagkakataon, nakipagpulong ang Kalihim ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) kasama ang Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), na kinatawan ng mga pangulo ng mga lokal na chapter at pinangunahan ni TDC Chairman Benjo Basas, nagsasagawa ng mahahalagang hakbang upang tugunan ang mga hinaing sa pagtaas ng sahod ng mga guro at mga insentibo.

 

Sa pagpupulong na pinangunahan ni DBM Secretary Amenah “Mina” Pangandaman, tinalakay ang kalagayan ng Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) para sa FY 2022, ang epekto ng Executive Order No. 61 sa PBB at Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), ang mga resulta ng mga pag-aaral ng DBM-GCG (Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations), at ang mga development sa iminungkahing pagtaas ng suweldo para sa FY 2024.

 

Upang pawiin ang pangamba ng mga guro sa bansa, tiniyak ng DBM na sa kabila ng pag-isyu sa Executive Order No. 61, na nag-uutos ng review ng Result-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS) at Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS), ang pagpapalabas ng PBB para sa FYs 2022 at 2023 ay magpapatuloy pa rin.

 

Ipinabatid ni Director Gerald Janda ng DBM Organization, Position and Classification and Compensation Bureau (OPCCB) na nagsasagawa sila ng masusing koordinasyon sa Department of Education (DepEd) para sa kanilang FY 2022 PBB upang mapabilis ang proseso, tulad ng pag-validate ng isinumiteng Form 1.0 para sa pagsasama ng mga kawani na hindi naiulat sa Department’s Personnel Services Itemization and Plantilla of Personnel (PSIPOP), maling impormasyon, at mga duplicate records, bukod sa iba pa.

 

Sa kasalukuyan, ang mga Form 1.0 na isinumite mula sa walong (8) Regional Offices ng DepEd, kabilang ang NCR, Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, at Western Visayas, ay ibinalik para sa pag-rebisa at pag-validate ng DepEd.

 

“We must understand that the sheer size and complex structure of DepEd inherently complicates the process,” paliwanag ni Secretary Mina.

 

Makikipagtulungan ang DBM sa DepEd upang malutas ang mga isyu  kaugnay sa pagpapatupad ng PBB at matiyak na ang lahat ng kinakailangang requirements ay natutugunan para sa pamamahagi ng bonus.

 

“Napaka-tedious ng requirements ngayon. Napakadaming dokumento. Timely po na ma-review natin ang components and submissions naten sa PBB. We will endeavor to streamline this process,” dagdag ni Sec. Mina.

 

Sa ilalim ng Executive Order No. 61, sinusuri ng DBM ang RBPMS at PBIS upang gawing mas magaan at mas epektibo ang proseso. Ang mga pagbabago ay dapat naaayon sa ease of doing business initiatives, sa Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, sa Socioeconomic Agenda ni PBBM’s, at sa international standards.

 

Samantala, inihayag ni TDC Chair Benjo Basas na balak ng koalisyon na isumite ang isang proposal upang buhayin ang dating simplified performance appraisal system para sa mga guro.

 

Sa kabilang banda, ang alokasyon ng budget para sa FY 2024 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) ay ganap nang inilabas sa DepEd noong Enero ng taong ito.

 

Tungkol naman sa inaasahang pagtaas ng sahod para sa civilian government employees, kasama na ang mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan, kinumpirma ng DBM na mayroon nang pondo para sa salary adjustment na nakalaan sa FY 2024 General Appropriations Act.

 

Kasalukuyang isinasagawa ang isang bagong pag-aaral tungkol sa compensation and benefits upang gabayan ang mga pagsasaayos ng suweldo sa hinaharap. Layunin ng pag-aaral na lumikha ng isang competitive, matatag, at patas na pay structure para sa mga government employees.

 

Ipiprisenta sa Pangulo ang mga opsyon para sa layuning ito. Patuloy pang isinasaayos ang mga partikular na detalye tungkol sa petsa ng pagpapatupad at irerekomendang rates.

 

"Thank you po dahil it’s the first time we had a dialogue with the DBM Secretary. Una po kasi, Usec and Asecs po ang humaharap sa 'min. We appreciate the gesture," ipinahayag ni TDC Chair Benjo Basas.

 

“Nakapagsalita 'yung mga tao. [the meeting was] democratic, and nabigyan po talaga kami ng space ni Secretary mismo na, makapagsalita at makapagpahayag ng aming hinaing. With the aid of the Usecs and Asecs, right away meron mga sagot sa aming queries,” sinabi ni TDC Chair Basas, habang pinupuri ang maaagap na  pagtugon ni Secretary Pangandaman.

 

Tiniyak ni Sec. Pangandaman sa TDC ang kahandaan ng DBM na tugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. “I hope we can do this [meeting] regularly para magkaron po tayo ng updates at solusyon sa mga issues. The DBM is open [to discussing] lahat po ng inyong pangangailangan. We will endeavor to solve whatever problem to the best of our abilities.”