No Internet allowance for public school teachers — DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) stressed that it is not giving any Internet allowance to public school teachers when classes open on August 24.
In an interview, DepEd Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said there is no basis for now to supply the teachers with load or Internet allowance despite the implementation of distance learning in the coming school year.
Sevilla added that even though the Department acknowledged the necessity for additional funds so teachers can work on the new modes of instruction, the DepEd still has to consult with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in terms of additional cash allowances for teachers.
“There is no basis to give internet or load ‘ALLOWANCE’ for now. We are still coordinating with DBM on the adjustment and policy guideline that we can use to reprogram our plan and the budget to accommodate funding for this need,” the official said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sevilla said the Department has started the distribution of P3,500 cash allowance to public school teachers which they could use to purchase the necessary materials for their lessons. MNP (with reports from Joan Nano)
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CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this article stated that DepEd finds no sufficient reason to provide public school teachers with internet allowance. DepEd has clarified that “there is NO LEGAL BASIS yet to pay internet allowance because there is no go signal from the DBM to grant such.”
Revisions have been made accordingly.