Lawmaker seeks Special Risk Allowance for Teachers

A lawmaker urged the Department of Education to give teachers with special risk allowance as the country started its pilot run of face-to-face classes in select areas amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In filing House Resolution 2410, Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo said teachers are at risk of contracting Covid-19, especially now that the DepEd is about to expand face-to-face classes.

Quimbo said a risk allowance would allow teachers to spend more on protective equipment and pay for medical bills should they get sick in the line of duty.

“I call on the DepEd to immediately look for funds for this purpose, and to categorically prohibit schools from requiring their teachers to sign such waivers for face-to-face classes,” she said.

She said she received reports that some schools need teachers to sign a waiver before being allowed to teach face-to-face classes.

“Necessarily, they would need to buy medicines. In worse cases, they would have to be confined. Mauubos ang ipon ng teacher sa medical bills kung ‘di tutulong ang gobyerno” she said.

She also pointed out that the teachers who work upon the reopening of face-to-face classes face “unique risks” given that their students are likely to be unvaccinated.

“Given the important role of teachers as our front-liners in the education sector, all measures must be implemented to ensure their safety and proper compensation be paid to them commensurate to the risk that they are exposed to,” she said.

Quimbo also urged the Department of Health to focus on the teachers for booster shots.