DepEd, GSIS deal on teacher loans praised

MANILA, Philippines — The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has welcomed the partnership between the Department of Education and the Government Service Insurance System that will allow public school teachers to refinance their existing loans at a lower interest rate.

TDC chairman Benjo Basas said the agreement signed by the two agencies could help teachers ease the burden of paying their existing loans.

However, he urged DepEd to look deeper into the issue and address the problem of overborrowing by providing more compensation and benefits.

“DepEd should be at the forefront of our advocacy to improve the benefit and compensation system for teachers, specifically the increase in our salaries,” the TDC chair said.