Fourteen teachers of a private school in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu sought assistance at the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) after a series of delays reportedly in the release of their salary, including their 13th month pay. 

The teachers said the school owner promised to release on March 15, 2024, Friday, their one month's worth of salary. However, they received reportedly P2,000 only through a cousin of the principal. The school owner refused to face them, the teachers said.

Alias “Thrina,” who has close to three years teaching stint in the concerned school, said that the delay began three months since the opening of School Year 2023-2024.

At that time, she said, delay would only take one to two days. However, the delay in the succeeding months took longer than usual. In fact, she said, they have not received their 13^th month pay mandated by the law to be released supposedly by December 2023.

The latest delay pushed them reportedly to the wall, the reason why they sought assistance from the city’s PESO.

They submitted copies of their formal letter of complaint to the Department of Education in Lapu-Lapu City and to PESO.

Kim Francisco, Lapu-Lapu City PESO manager, said they will help raise the teachers' complaint to concerned government agencies.

Dr. Ronald Ferrer, assistant schools division superintendent (officer in charge) of the DepEd Lapu-Lapu City, acknowledged that his office has received a copy of the complaint.

“As of now the legal officer has already started her inquiry and investigation as to where can DepEd help in this concern,” Dr. Ferrer said.

As of posting time, the school owner has not issued a statement yet.