Amid the celebration of World Teachers’ Day this October 5, Senator Win Gatchalian reiterates his call to uphold the welfare and safety of the country’s education frontliners, who have been sacrificing their health and safety to ensure learning continuity at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Gatchalian, the crucial next steps include the vaccination of all teachers, non-teaching staff, and other school officials, especially since the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to begin the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in areas with minimal risk of COVID-19. DepEd earlier announced that full vaccination will be required for teachers and non-teaching personnel participating in the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes.
“Kasabay ng unti-unting pagbubukas ng ating mga paaralan ang pagtiyak na lahat ng ating mga guro ay mababakunahan kontra COVID-19. Kung mababakunahan na ang lahat ng ating mga guro at mga kawani, matitiyak nating makakalahok sila kung sakaling mapalawig na ang pagsasagawa ng face-to-face classes sa buong bansa,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
While the vaccination of teachers will help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools, Gatchalian emphasized that it is equally important to ensure that teachers can turn to the government if they are infected with the coronavirus disease.
Public school teachers have Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) coverage, which they can use if they get infected with COVID-19. Teachers, however, still need to spend out of their pockets before receiving reimbursements from the state insurer. One of Gatchalian’s suggestions is the creation of a PhilHealth special lane for teachers to allow the speedier provision of aid for COVID-19 treatment.
Gatchalian also recognizes the work of teachers as election frontliners. In Senate Bill No. 1193 filed in 2019, Gatchalian sought to exclude from gross income and exempt from taxation the honoraria, travel allowance, and other benefits granted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to teachers and poll workers under Republic Act No. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA). In the past elections, a 5% tax was imposed on teachers’ election honoraria and allowances.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga guro para sa kanilang serbisyo sa ating bayan. Hindi lang sila frontliners sa edukasyon, mahalaga rin ang papel nila sa pangangalaga ng ating demokrasya. Kaya naman dapat nating itaguyod ang kanilang kaligtasan at kapakanan lalo na sa gitna ng hinaharap nating krisis,” said Gatchalian.
