Valenzuela exec blames government system for 8-year delay in teachers’ pay

A Valenzuela City education official blamed government accounting procedures for the eight-year delay in the payment of incentives to the city’s public school teachers.

Three hundred teachers staged a protest on Monday, demanding P25 million – excluding interest – in incentives due them.

“The fund is for release but we can’t give you a definite date. I know (you are already impatient) but I assure you we are working very hard on this. It is just that we have procedures to follow,” Valenzuela city schools officer-in-charge Superintendent Joel San Luis told the teachers.

He said P1.5 million in savings had been deposited with the Landbank, but the amount cannot just be released because of tedious procedures and the “system,” which he said should be fixed.

In a dialogue at the Valenzuela Division Office, San Luis told the teachers that they have requested Department of Education and Department of Budget and Management officials for P50 million to cover the “overlooked” benefits but this will take a long time before these could be released.

San Luis said all they would get is the P1.5 million savings the division office generated last year and might be released by December 2008, the alleged historical and traditional time of release of the funds.

“I assure you you will get the P1.5 million, maybe in a month’s time, if the fund is already in the system. The P50-million is subject to final (approval of our) request and payment in batches may be made within the next two years,” he said.

San Luis pleaded with the teachers not to land him in the papers.

“I want you teachers to be dignified. I don’t want you there baking in the heat of the sun. Don’t say you are in a protest rally. Say you are only lobbying because the money is really yours. I hope you understand that we are not hiding anything,” he said.