The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) wants clarification on a memorandum issued by the Department of Education-Manila City Schools Division Office (DepEd-Manila) ordering teachers to complete tasks and submissions in June despite Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte’s “clear” directive on a mandatory vacation for teachers that month. 

On May 6, DepEd-Manila Schools Division issued Memorandum 219, stating teachers should complete certain tasks, specifically the submission of the Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF), on or before June 10, 2024.

Nono Enguerra, president of the TDC National Capital Region, asserted the memorandum “appears to contradict the order” from VP Duterte, specifically DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2024, dated February 19, 2024.

Under DepEd’s DO 3, teachers will enjoy a 30-day break from June 1 to 30, during which they should not be compelled to do work. This was reiterated by another memorandum from the Office of Undersecretary for Operations (DM-OUOPS-2024-02-01300), signed by Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo and Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas on February 20, 2024.

“It is clear that the intention of VP and DepEd Secretary Duterte and the Central Office is that teachers should not be required to return or report to school from June 1 to June 30, but this directive from SDS Manila contradicts the DepEd Order,” he said.

Jim Lester Beleno, president of Roxas HS Faculty Club and spokesperson for TDC-Manila, said while they recognize the necessity of submitting the IPCRF, which forms the basis of DepEd employees performance ratings, it should not be required during a period specifically designated by Duterte as rest time for teachers.

Beleno also said DepEd-Manila’s directive “plainly contradicts” a Central Office memorandum signed by Undersecretary Wilfredo Cabral on February 22, 2024, which states that the IPCRF should be finished between July 1 and July 12.

“Hence, the recent SDO Manila directive plainly contradicts the earlier memoranda mentioned, which remain effective,” Beleno said, referring to the new due date for IPCRF submission.

Not the first time

While the teachers’ group wish to discuss the issue with DepEd Manila’s leadership for clarification, they have also expressed skepticism whether such dialogue will be successful, citing similar issues in the past.

“This is not the first time we have faced such an issue in Manila. Just last month, SDO Manila issued a memorandum requiring teachers to report to school even during the suspension of face-to-face classes,” said Mingfie Frogosa, president of Villamor Faculty Club.

“Manila was the only place in Metro Manila, and perhaps the entire country, where teachers were required to report to school even without face-to-face classes,”Frogosa said, adding that the teacher-leaders of the Manila Public School Teachers Association had attempted to discuss the issue with SDS Riddle through dialogue to no avail.

“Now, here is another potential violation by SDO Manila regarding the mandatory vacation of teachers,” Frogosa said.

TDC now plans to bring the issue to the attention of VP Sara Duterte and Regional Director Joyce Andaya.

“We know that policy-making is centralized and only the DepEd Central Office has the power to create policies and all DepEd offices are duty-bound to comply, especially if they are for the benefit of the teachers,” the group said.