CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government will distribute today the financial assistance to 5,113 public school teachers assigned in the city.
Each teacher will get P10,000 in cash aid, which will be released 4 p.m. today at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
The city has 5,500 teachers, but 387 of them are expected to retire this year and in 2018.
The 387 teachers, however, will not receive the financial assistance because the city government will use the P3.9 million to partly pay the P80.2 million, which the Commission on Audit disallowed on October 20, 2016.
According to COA, the releasing of the teacher’s cost of living allowance (COLA) and hardship allowance from January to December 2015 totaling to P80.2 million was “irregular and contrary” to the laws, rules, and regulations.
The commission cited that under Section 6 of the Department of Budget and Management Circular No. 2001-03, the giving of COLA to teachers is deemed unauthorized. COLA is included in the monthly salary of teachers.
In year 2015, at least 8,000 public school teachers benefitted from COLA. They have been told to refund the money on installment basis.
It was during the term of former mayor Michael Rama that the city government released the COLA to all public school teachers amounting to P2,000 per month.
On the other hand, the Federation of Public School Teachers will launch today the signature campaign to support their appeal before COA to no longer let them pay the amount because they were not aware that the giving of COLA is irregular under the existing laws.
Councilor Joy Augustus Young, deputy mayor on education and scholarships, said the signatures will be submitted to COA as a supporting document.
He said the teachers are still drafting their appeal, citing the Supreme Court decision which is Maritime Industry Authority vs. COA promulgated in January 13, 2015.
MIA gave allowance to its employees which COA disallowed due to a DBM budget circular.
But the SC ruled that “recipients or payees need not refund these disallowed amounts when they received them in god faith.”
If COA reconsiders, the city government will refund the teachers. (FREEMAN)