Funds for Metro Manila teachers’ 2021 performance-based bonuses released

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday said it has issued a Special Allotment Release Order to cover the performance-based bonus (PBB) of teachers in Metro Manila for 2021, while those for other regions will be pending subject to the revalidation of documents.

According to the DBM, the Special Allotment Release Order and Notice of Cash Allocation worth P950,942,317 was made to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the payment of the 2021 PBB of eligible school-based personnel of the department’s office in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“I already instructed concerned bureaus and offices to ensure that there will be no delays, in the part of the DBM, in the release of the performance-based bonus to our dear teachers,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement.

“The DBM stands with our nation’s educators and recognizes the extraordinary work they do for our country. Thus, we are one with our teachers in the pursuit of the immediate release of their PBB,” she added.

Outside Metro Manila, the DBM said teachers will have to wait longer as the submitted Form 1.0 of school-based personnel were returned to the Personnel Division, Bureau of Human Resource, and Organizational Development (BHROD) for revalidation or revision.

The DBM cited varying concerns, such as duplicate entries, personnel indicated not found in the agency’s Personal Services Itemization, and Plantilla of Personnel (PSIPOP), among others.

The department said it has yet to receive the revised Form 1.0 for the remaining 15 regions, which are needed for the PBB funds to be released.

“Rest assured po that we will closely coordinate with the Department of Education to address this, and once we are provided with the complete requirements, we will ensure din po that the PBBs will be released as soon as possible,” Pangandaman said.

The General Appropriations Act (GAA) allocated P710.6 billion this year for the Department of Education—headed by Vice President Sara Duterte—to mark a 12.20% increase from P633.3 billion in 2022.

The education sector as a whole was given P852.8 billion, the highest budgetary priority as mandated by the Philippine Constitution. — BM, GMA Integrated News