DepEd pushes for internet allowance for teachers for blended learning

The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing for the possible provision of internet allowance for teachers and other personnel for blended learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a budget hearing on Tuesday, DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla requested lawmakers from the House of Representatives to make the provision of the internet allowance legal.

She explained that providing the allowance first needs to undergo the process of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as well as the Commission on Audit (COA).

“We are just complying with whatever would be authorized as an allowance kasi meron din batas dito kagaya ng Salary Standardization Law na in-enumerate kung ano lang ang valid allowances,” she said.

“Automatic po ‘yan, magkakaroon po tayo ng COA finding kapag nagbigay tayo ng allowance na hindi naman po nakalagay sa General Appropriations Act at Salary Standardization Law,” she added.

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo vowed support of lawmakers for DepEd in terms of legislation to provide teachers monthly internet allowance.

According to Sevilla, the suggested amount for internet allowance for teachers ranges from P350 to P500 monthly. However, she noted that they will first get expert opinion on internet service offers.

“For now, ang inuuna namin  humingi ng authorization from DBM  and the COA kasi  ang policy na ganito ay kailangan mag-emanate from them,” Sevilla said.

In line with this, DepEd has started requesting information from teachers to determine their needs in connectivity for blended learning.

“Kasalukuyang pinaghahandaan ang posibilidad ng pagbibigay ng buwanang probisyon para sa connectivity at communications ng mga teachers at personnel ng DepEd,” Undersecretary Alain Pascua said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“Upang makatulong sa pagpaplano at pagtukoy kung ano ang malakas na signal sa bawat lugar at tahanan, hinihiling po namin na mag-register at mag-update ng kanilang mga DepEd Commons Account,” he added.

Pascua noted that only teachers and personnel with registered and updated accounts will be qualified for the internet allowance program. — BM, GMA News