Employees observe truce with DepEd chief

MANILA, Philippines - There is a truce between top officials and employees of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Domingo Alidon, DepEd National Employees Union president, said that he has declared a “ceasefire” on their bid to call for the resignation of Education Secretary Armin Luistro pending a meeting with top union officials nationwide on Sept. 7.

“The Secretary has granted a travel authority for all our officials to come here for a meeting with him on Sept. 7,” he said.

Alidon said shouldering the travel expenses of union officials going to Metro Manila was a good gesture.

Another welcome gesture was Luistro’s approval of a year-round recreational activity to promote the well-being, health and productivity of central office employees, he added.

Luistro has ordered the release of funds to defray expenses for the holding of regular fitness activities like aerobics class, darts, chess, jogging and ballroom dancing from September to December.

The approval of recreational activities came as a result of the Aug. 9 meeting with representatives of the DepEd Central Office Union.

Other employee concerns raised with Luistro included the construction of covered walkways between buildings, putting up of a day-care center for employees, especially nursing mothers, and ways to address delays in the release of salaries.

Luistro assured union members that employees’ welfare is one of his priorities, as well as mapping out their career path to ensure professional growth.