Mandaue mulls P10T cash aid for teachers

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna has urged his colleagues in the City Council to pass an ordinance providing financial assistance to public school teachers in the city.

Fortuna issued the call during the celebration of the world teachers’ day last Thursday where he also had a meeting with the Mandaue City Public School Teachers Association (MCPST).

The proposal is expected to be discussed in the council this week.

"We're looking at P10,000 per teacher by the end of the year," Fortuna said, adding that they are still on the process of discussing the matter with the City Budget Office.

He said the teachers are asking the city government to increase their cash assistance after losing a big chunk of their Cost of Living Allowance. The Commission on Audit in 2015 issued a notice of disallowance to the city government on the disbursement of teachers’ COLA and hardship allowance, which were charged to the Special Education Fund (SEF).

The state auditor said the disbursements were unauthorized under the existing laws.

"(The) COA said that any expenditures gikan sa SEF must directly impact the students of Mandaue City. So, what we did, we try to look for a basis in order to be able to grant the bonus without the Special Education Fund unya, Vice Mayor Carlo made to find a strong basis," said Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.

One of the requirements for a teacher to qualify the financial assistance is to have served in the city for at least one year. Mandaue City has around 2,500 public teachers.

"Roughly P25 million (ang) amount (that) we need to prepare," Fortuna said.

The Mandaue City government found this alternative solution to address the teachers’ low salaries. Asked if teachers can get the cash assistance by the end of the year, Quisumbing said they can get half of the proposed amount for the meantime.

The other half will be provided early next year, the mayor added. The giving of the cash assistance in full amount will be given next year as the mayor wanted it to be included in the budget proposal for 2019.

"It will be included in the budget proposal for 2019, so we'll be able to release it in full next year," Quisumbing said. (FREEMAN)