Paid leave, ibibigay sa mga guro na nagka-COVID-19 — DepEd

ni Lolet Abania | October 7, 2022

Ipinahayag ng Department of Education (DepEd) na ang mga guro na nagpositibo sa test sa COVID-19, nagkaroon ng mga sintomas o close contact exposure at kinailangang mag-isolate ay maaaring maka-avail ng excused absence o paid leave.

Ayon kay DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa, batay ito sa ilalim ng Department Order (DO) 39 na inisyu noong Setyembre 20.

“Excused absence means they will be marked absent but they will still be paid their salaries. This is stated under DepEd Order 39 which is based on CSC (Civil Service Commission) Memorandum Circular Number 2, Series of 2022,” ani Poa sa isang news conference ngayon Biyernes.

Gayunman aniya, ang limit sa katulad na paid leaves ay alinsunod sa nakapaloob sa CSC memorandum circular.

“Our teachers are civil servants, and are under civil service, so as to their rules, in terms of excused absences and the like, sumusunod po tayo sa CSC kasi sila ang may mandato riyan,” sabi ni Poa.

“We have to follow DOH (Department of Health) guidelines for close contact. As to the limit, we will refer to the CSC memorandum circular,” dagdag ng opisyal.

Batay sa nakasaad sa CSC memo, “in the event of circumstances abovementioned wherein the employee has exhausted his/her sick leave credits, Section 56 of the Omnibus Rules on Leave shall apply allowing the use of vacation leave credits in lieu of sick leave credits. In case the vacation leave credits have been exhausted, the employee may apply for sick leave of absence without pay.”

Bukod sa paid leaves para sa mga guro na infected ng COVID-9, may mga sintomas, at close contact ng isang positive case, ayon kay Poa, “Department Order 39 also provides for optional wearing of face mask in outdoor settings in accordance with the existing national policy, as well as mandatory handwashing facilities in schools alongside group hand washing activity among learners to prevent COVID-19 infection.”

“Why a group hand washing activity? Lalo na sa mga bata, ‘pag nakikita nila iyong mga kasama nila na sabay-sabay sila naghuhugas ng kamay, may naeengganyo sila at mas nagiging habit sa kanila ang paghuhugas ng kamay,” saad pa ni Poa.