BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) will begin receiving an annual medical allowance of up to Php 7,000 per year as part of the Marcos administration’s expanded healthcare support for government employees.

Aligned with Executive Order No. 64, s. 2024 signed by President Bongbong Marcos, Jr and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Circular No. 2024-6, the initiative aims to ease the financial burden of medical expenses, improve healthcare access, and boost the well-being and productivity of DepEd employees, especially those in low-income, remote, and high-risk areas.

“As emphasized by President Marcos, we want our teachers and staff to stay healthy without having to worry about medical bills,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

 “This is our way of recognizing the commitment of our teachers and staff. This allowance is a way to give back and ensure they never have to choose between their health and the stress of medical bills,” he added.

Under the newly issued DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2025 entitled Guidelines on the Grant of Medical Allowance to the Department of Education personnel, qualified DepEd personnel may receive the benefit by choosing either of the three modes:

·        Enrollment in group HMO packages to be procured by DepEd,

·        Individual availment of new or for renewal of existing HMO-type product, or

·        Direct cash payment via payroll can be availed by those personnel in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) or where HMO access is limited or unavailable or individual HMO application is denied by an HMO company.

The allowance covers permanent, co-terminus, fixed-term, casual, or contractual personnel who have rendered at least six months of service within the year. However, those without employer- employee relationships with DepEd—such as consultants, job order workers, apprentices, and student laborers—are excluded from the program.

For employees availing of the individual availment options, DepEd clarified that the amount will be released via payroll even before submission of receipts or other supporting documents. Additionally, regardless of the amount of the HMO-type that they would avail, the personnel would still receive P7,000.

However, failure to submit the necessary documents within the prescribed period may result in the withholding of the succeeding year’s medical allowance until such obligations have been settled.

DepEd said the initiative is expected to reduce absenteeism, improve staff morale, and contribute to a more resilient and effective teaching workforce, particularly in underserved areas. Lastly, this initiative is a full realization of the mandated health benefits for teachers under the Republic Act No. 4670 also known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

*All Photos from DepEd