Teachers group hits delay in PBB release

CEBU, Philippines - Public school teachers in Cebu have yet to receive their performance-based bonus (PBB) last year.

The Teacher’s Dignity Coalition and Alliance of Concerned Teachers slammed the Department of Education and Department of Budget and Management for the delay in the release of PBB.

Anabelle dela Cerna, Teachers' Dignity Coalition vice chairperson for the Visayas, said the PBB, which is given to DepEd teaching and non-teaching employees ranges from P5,000 to P35,000, should have been given October last year. The stalled bonus is for 2015’s PBB.

"Sobrang pahirap ang PBB maliban sa hindi ito fair laging late pa ang pagbibigay," she told The Freeman.

Dela Cerna said the PBB of other regions have already been released except for Regions 7, 8 and half of the Negros Island. She said they have asked DepEd-7 but they were told that the PBB will be released by January. "Pero February nalang wala pa rin," she said

She said officers of TDC Manila had a dialogue with DepEd Central Office but they were also informed that the papers submitted by the said regional offices were erroneous and lacking.

"We are asking now na panagutin kung sino ang may sala ng pagkaantala ng PBB," she added.

The bonus is depending on the individual employee's and the agency/office's performance rating either good or best.

The amounts cited in the Department Order No. 56, series 2016 (DO 56, s. 2016) are determined by the personnel’s performance or contribution to the achievement of education targets and commitments.

The grant of PBB is to recognize the exemplary performance of teachers, to further motivate higher performance and greater accountability, and to foster the value of meritocracy in the Department.

The PBB is part of the productivity based-incentive system (PBIS) under the Salary Standardization Law-3 enacted in 2009 but only implemented since 2012 under the Executive Order 80 signed by then President Benigno  Aquino III.

TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas, in an earlier statement, said the PBB has always been an object of criticism in the system because of the usual delays in its release since it started in fiscal year 2012.

DepEd, in a statement posted on its website, said the ranking reports of schools, which will be the basis of the amount of PBB to be released per school personnel, are already submitted to the DBM for evaluation and processing of payment.

Antonia Lim, president of ACT Region 7, said they have inquired with DMB-7 but the agency has yet to receive a memorandum from its head office for the releasing of PBB.

Lim said the bonus might only be released by April yet, prolonging further the agony of the teachers like her.

A public school teacher from Cebu province, who refused to be named, said the PBB is an example of a broken and forgotten promise. — /FPL (FREEMAN)