Teachers Call for Cash Release Amid HMO Enrollment Delays
A group of public school teachers has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to release the mandated P7,000 medical allowance in cash due to ongoing delays in enrolling teachers into the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) program. The teachers emphasized the need for a more immediate solution to cover urgent healthcare costs.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) formally appealed to DepEd to provide the P7,000 medical allowance directly in cash. They cited logistical challenges and concerns over the current implementation of the HMO system as key reasons behind their request. “We believe this is the general sentiment of our teachers, and we urge the DepEd to initiate—or at least seek—the approval of the DBM [Department of Budget and Management], or whichever authority is appropriate, to allow the release of the P7,000 in the form of cash,” the coalition’s national chairperson said.
Clarification Sought on Medical Allowance Implementation
In a letter addressed to DepEd, the coalition requested updates on the status of the medical benefit mandated by Executive Order No. 64 and DBM Budget Circular 2024-6. These directives require government agencies to establish internal policies for providing medical allowances to their employees.
The coalition recognizes the complexity DepEd faces, as it manages nearly a million personnel. However, they suggest that releasing the allowance in cash could serve as a practical interim measure to ease the burden on teachers and streamline the process.
“Considering the time constraints and potential challenges in enrolling all eligible teachers within the remaining months, we appeal for an option to receive this benefit in cash,” the letter stated. The funds could be immediately used for mandatory annual physical examinations and other urgent medical needs.
DepEd Acknowledges Challenges but Supports HMO Model
DepEd, through a representative from the Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development, acknowledged the difficulties in rolling out the HMO program across such a large workforce. However, they view this challenge as an opportunity to implement a more comprehensive healthcare package for teachers.
Despite this, the coalition highlighted the urgency of the matter, noting that many teachers have already undergone their required medical exams. Further delays could cause significant inconvenience.
As a practical solution for this year, the group insists that distributing the allowance in cash is the most feasible approach.
Balancing Immediate Needs and Long-Term Healthcare Solutions
While pushing for the cash release, the coalition also expressed support for the long-term benefits of a well-structured HMO system. They believe that such a program would offer more sustainable and extensive healthcare coverage for DepEd employees.
Therefore, they urged DepEd to expedite the selection of a reliable HMO provider capable of delivering timely and broad medical services to teachers and staff.
With the school year having just ended and the next one starting soon, the coalition hopes DepEd will adopt a flexible and responsive policy to ensure teachers receive their entitled medical support without unnecessary delays.
The group is also seeking a dialogue with DepEd officials, particularly with the Education Secretary, to discuss these concerns and explore practical solutions.
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