Teachers group laments unequal tax for bonus

CEBU, Philippines - The Teacher’s Dignity Coalition in the Visayas has questioned the uneven tax deductions of the public school teacher’s performance-based bonus.

TDC vice chairperson for Visayas Annabelle dela Cerna said the deduction differ from one area to another. She said the tax deductions in Pampanga and Tarlac was only eight percent while 10 percent in Cebu and Isabela.

Dela Cerna said Negros Oriental is higher at 20 percent while Kabankalan City is 30 percent. She said they learned that public school teachers in the National Capital Region and Calabarzon received their bonus in full without any deduction.

“TDC calls on the Bureau of Internal and Revenue and the Department of Education officials to clarify this matter,” dela Cerna said.

As stated under Executive Order No. 80 in 2012, the PBB is a scheme under the administration of Pre-sident Benigno Aquino III where teachers and government employees are entitled to an across-the-board productivity enhancement incentive in the amount of P5,000 and a PBB that ranges from P5,000 to P35, 000 depending on the employee’s performance.

The PBB is a scheme that intends to reward government employees based on their performance and promote greater accountability in the public sector.

However, the said EO provided that employees who are rated “below satisfactory” or those found guilty of administrative and/or criminal charges are disqualified from receiving the PBB.  (FREEMAN)