Positive news for teachers and school. Annalyn Sevilla, Undersecretary for Finance, said the Department of Education ( DepEd) is actively preparing many public school teacher benefit packages. 
During a simulated press conference on Aug. 17, Sevilla said these would include mandatory wellness checkups, World Teacher's Day (WTD) bonus incentives, danger pay, and, among others, COVID-19 rewards and packages. 

"Sevilla said in Filipino," The finance office of DeepEd is planning for the coming incentives for our students. We plan to release a P400-million budget in September to finance the annual medical review for teachers at P500 each.'

Sevilla said that a P900-million allocation will also be made available for the WTD celebration on Oct. 5, which also occurs on the same day that the formal school year begins, such that public school teachers will get P1,000.00 each. 

Sevila also noted that all workers who physically report for work under the ECQ or Changed ECQ are entitled to P500 a day of hazard pay under Administrative Order 26. This is now being introduced, because if our workers are called to return to work under MECQ or ECQ, they are liable for P500 a day hazard payment, she said. 
Seville confirmed that DepEd is already collaborating with the Workers Compensation Board, PhilHealth, and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for this, given demands from peer mentoring for DepEd to offer support and assistance to both teachers and educational employees who have contracted COVID-19.