The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to clarify the implementation of a new executive order signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The confusion stems from an alleged unofficial statement from DepEd regarding the suspension of the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS), a system that awards bonuses based on teacher performance.

The TDC, which has long criticized the RPMS for being burdensome and unfair, is calling for clear guidelines on how Executive Order (EO) No. 61 will affect teachers.

“There is a pressing need for DepEd to provide a definitive interpretation of EO 61,” Richie Salubre, a lawyer and teacher who heads the TDC chapter in the CALABARZON Region, said on June 14 in a statement. 

“The current ambiguity is causing significant distress and uncertainty among our teachers and school heads who are unsure how to proceed,” Salubre added.

The alleged unofficial statement from DepEd’s Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD), circulating online, reportedly states that the RPMS itself is not suspended. 

However, it adds that the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) and the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) are on hold. The statement also mentions the continued allocation of the PEI budget for 2024.

“This alleged statement is an outright deviation from the spirit and intent of EO 61,” Salubre argued. 

He explained that the executive order effectively suspends previous policies that mandated the RPMS and Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS).

Nevertheless, the TDC views EO 61 as a positive development, highlighting the long-standing issues they have raised about the RPMS.

“EO 61 acknowledges the duplicative and onerous nature of the RPMS and PBIS. It is essential that DepEd align its policies with the spirit and intent of this executive order,” Salubre emphasized.

Many teachers have found the RPMS unfair and unrealistic, and the TDC says the suspension is a welcome relief.

“We urge DepEd to promptly issue an official statement and clarification in conformity with EO 61 to dispel the confusion among our public school teachers,” Salubre concluded.

On June 12, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reaffirmed the suspension of the current RPMS and PBIS. However, they clarified that bonuses for 2022 and 2023 will remain unaffected.