Human Rights Online Philippines

Teachers ask DEPED to stop medical examination with pay

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) thru its national chairperson Benjo Basas asked DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones to issue a department order to halt the on-going medical check-up and laboratory tests in DepEd field offices citing the violation of the part of the DepEd for not providing it for free.

In a letter to Briones furnished to the offices of the Undersecretaries of finance Basas said, “”It is clear that medical examination for teachers should be done annually and it is compulsory, however, the same provision of the law also says that it should be free and in fact, the law also mandates that the government should pay for teachers’ hospitalization and treatment if found necessary. Then why teachers should be burdened by this regulation?”

The group reiterated their position proposed to Briones last year that teachers, beginning school-year 2017-2018 should not be required to pay for medical examinations in accordance with the Sec. 22 of Magna Carta for Teachers which says, “Medical Examination and Treatment. Compulsory medical examination shall be provided free of charge for all teachers before they take up teaching, and shall be repeated not less than once a year during the teacher’s professional life. Where medical examination show that medical treatment and/or hospitalization is necessary, same shall be provided free by the government entity paying the salary of the teachers.”

Basas asked Briones to immediately order a halt on the on-going medical examinations in the field pending the dialogues between TDC and DepEd management regarding the matter. Basas said that they anticipate Briones would do good on her commitment during their initial dialogues on Magna Carta provisions last year.

“That being the case, you will forever be remembered as the first Secretary of Education who implement the free medical examination and treatment for teachers which was disregarded for 52 years.” Basas ended.

Reference:
Benjo Basas
09273356375/
09999744612

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