30-day break for teachers; admin tasks reduced

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Vice President Sara Duterte announced that public school teachers will be given a 30-day break effective this year.

Duterte made the announcement during the National Teachers Month celebration opening program held at the Panaad Park and Stadium here Friday.

Duterte was with Senators Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino.

Duterte said that it has long been the concern of teachers to go on vacation after the school year.

She said it was not an easy process as every time she requested the department draft the order, nothing happened until she decided to do it on her own.

She said she is thankful that the department order was approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Duterte told the teachers that if they would look into the school calendar, there would be a 30-day break without any activity listed.

She said she would issue a memorandum to all principals and regional directors not to give the teachers any tasks within the 30-day break.

Duterte also reduced the at least 56 administrative tasks to teachers to only 11.

She said some teachers aired their concerns that they are made to conduct deworming, feeding programs and even planting of vegetables as if they are health workers and farmers.

“Teachers should be in the classroom teaching,” she pointed out.

Duterte said that when she looked into these administrative tasks, only 11 were with basis.

She said DepEd will soon have a website where teachers can seek legal advice for free, especially with their loans.

Duterte said another innovation she introduced with DepEd is the digitization of hiring and promotion to eradicate the padrino system.

Duterte also said that she brought Senators Marcos and Tolentino with her as she asked both senators to chip in P500 each on top of the P1,000 that was given to each 3,435 teachers present.

Marcos on the other hand gave lipstick and P25 kilos of rice to each teacher present.

Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said in his welcome message that “we should celebrate the greatness of the teachers, the country is nothing without the teachers.”

“Today, we come together to pay tribute to our teachers, recognizing their outstanding achievements, selfless dedication, and remarkable service,” he added.

Lacson further lauded the teachers saying that “in the face of the significant challenges posed by recent years, which have disrupted the conventional methods of educating our children, your unwavering commitment has played a pivotal role in determining the extent to which education has been affected.”

He assured the teachers of his support.

“You can count on your provincial government to empower and assist you. I applaud the high standards you have set for your students and fellow teachers.”

Also present in the celebration were Bacolod mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano and several Negros Occidental mayors and officials.