Department of Budget and Management
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 Sec. Amenah 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 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,” Pangandaman 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,” she 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.
Basas, meanwhile, announced that the TDC 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.
The Budget Chief 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,” she said. (PR)