Teachers’ coalition asks DepEd to extend work-from-home arrangement

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), a group which aims to lead “Filipino teachers in their struggle for rights, welfare, and dignity”, is calling for the Department of Education (DepEd) to extend its work-from-home arrangement as select teachers and personnel will be physically reporting to work on June 22, Monday.

On June 15, the education bureau released its DepEd Order No. 011, s. 2020, which outlines its revised guidelines on the alternative work arrangements while the Philippines is under a state of national emergency due to the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic. The order states that all teachers in DepEd schools nationwide will continue to work from home until June 21, Sunday, except for those authorized to physically render field work or in school.

TDC’s Secretary General Emmalyn Policarpio sent a letter to DepEd Secrerary Leonor Briones, saying that there is no plan to provide transportation for the many teachers required to report to work on June 22. TDC also appealed to DepEd for a “virtual dialogue” so it could air its concerns.

Policarpio also noted that teachers can fulfill all their required tasks at home, such as preparing modules and attending online seminars, thus, there is no need to physically report to work. The TDC also expressed its belief that many teachers may choose to not report to work in schools, as most of them are based in cities or municipalities still under General Community Quarantine (GCQ). In its nationwide address on June 15, President Rodrigo Duterte shared that he has approved the recommendation to keep Metro Manila under GCQ, and for Cebu City to go back under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).