Release of newly hired teachers’ salaries sought

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to release on time the salaries of newly hired public school teachers.

CSC chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala said appointees who have taken their oath of office and assumed the duties of the position are entitled to receive their salaries.

Bala issued the clarification in light of the delay in the issuance of salaries of newly hired teachers, allegedly because their appointments have not yet been approved by the CSC.

“The appointment issued by the agency is enough to warrant the release of the appointee’s salaries and wages. Thus, the Commission urges the Department of Education to release their salaries immediately,” Bala said.

The CSC pointed out that Rule VI, Section 17 of the 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, revised in July 2018, states in part that “If the appointee has taken his/her oath of office and assumed the duties of the position, he/she shall be entitled to receive his/her salary at once without waiting the approval/validation of his/her appointment by the Commission.”

The same policy states “the appointment shall remain effective until disapproved/invalidated by the Commission.”

The CSC said this has been the policy since 1998 when the CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 40, series of 1998 or the Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Personnel Actions.

Similarly, Commission on Audit Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo, in a letter to the CSC dated June 21, 2017, clarified that when it comes to the disbursement of salaries, the requirement “certified true copy of duly approved appointment” shall mean “an appointment duly approved or signed by the agency’s authorized appointing official and does not refer to the appointment signed by the CSC.”