THE Department of Education (DepEd) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to provide free legal aid to Deped teachers and personnel across the country.
Under the accord, the DepEd-IBP partnership will provide public school teachers and school-based non-teaching personnel access to legal advice and assistance in disputes and other legal concerns.
“We’re happy to note that this legal assistance memorandum that we’re signing with the IBP, not only will benefit our teachers but also our school-based non-teaching personnel. So these include administrative officers, accountants, clerks, and bookkeepers all over the Philippines. So that will benefit not only the 800,000 plus (teachers), but also the 100,000 plus non-teaching personnel,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said.
Angara added that the tie-up with IBP marks another milestone in DepEd’s efforts to support the welfare of teachers, in line with the directives of President Marcos.
The signing of MOA was witnessed by representatives from the DepEd Teachers Union (DTU), the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC).
IBP President Antonio Pido, executive vice president and governor for Western Mindanao Allan Panolong, and other top IBP officials welcomed the initiative, saying it was in keeping with IBP’s commitment to community service and supporting Filipino educators.
[“Now, under the watch of Secretary Angara, there is a big hope for public school teachers that their compensation will not just be a hand-to-mouth existence,” Pido said.
