A lawmaker has welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to increase from P18,000 to P20,000 the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) for the country’s 1,011,800 public school teachers and non-teaching staff.

According to Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. the increase in the SRI for Department of Education (DepEd) employees can be adequately funded by existing allocations in the 2024 national budget, including the

Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF).

“We are all for the grant of additional cash incentives and allowances to our teachers and non-teaching staff in recognition of their hard work and to help them cope with the rising cost of living,” Campos said.

The MPBF – a lumpsum allocation in the budget – can be used to fund deficiencies in the authorized salaries, bonuses, allowances, and similar personnel benefits of national government employees.

“Our estimate is that only around P2 billion is needed to cover the increase in the SRI of our teachers and non-teaching staff from P18,000 to P20,000 each,” Campos said.

The MPBF has an allocation of P29.7 billion in the 2024 national budget, and another P163.3 billion in the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Law that the President is set to sign on Dec. 20.

The solon is an author of House Bill No. 7840, which seeks to raise to P3,000 the World Teacher’s Day Incentive Benefit that honors those engaged in the teaching profession.

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman previously said her office will ascertain the funding mechanisms to finalize the release of the money for the SRI of DepEd personnel.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas