DOLE: Hundreds of teachers displaced due to K-12

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), June 30, 2016, http://www.philstar.com/campus/education/2016/06/30/1598052/dole-hundreds-teachers-displaced-due-k-12

MANILA, Philippines – The number of teachers and other school personnel who have lost their jobs due to the implementation of K-12 is starting to rise.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reported that it had recorded over 150 displaced teachers and school personnel as full implementation of the K-12 program took effect this month.

Dominique Tutay, DOLE ‘s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) director, said from 40, the number of displaced teachers and school personnel from the country’s five regions had risen to 155.

Of the 155 affected workers, 102 are teaching personnel while 53 are non-teaching employees. Only three applied for financial assistance from the government after their termination, Tutay said.

Among the five regions that reported displacement due to K-12 are Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Outgoing Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz earlier urged teachers and non-teaching personnel affected by the K-12 implementation to avail themselves of the DOLE’s Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) while they are looking for alternative employment.

Baldoz said DOLE initiated the K-12 AMP to support the displaced higher education institution (HEI) personnel in their transition to self or full-time employment through financial support, employment facilitation, training and livelihood.

The amount of financial support to be given for three months to a qualified beneficiary will be based on the prevailing median salary of the higher education institution personnel per nature of appointment per region, or his or her previous monthly salary, whichever is lower, Baldoz said.

“The financial assistance will be released every end of the month through the K-12 DOLE AMP-authorized bank,” Baldoz added.

Displaced teachers and other school personnel may also avail themselves of employment facilitation through the DOLE’s labor market information, consisting of the Phil-Jobnet facility, employment or job search kiosks, and industry career guides and occupational pamphlets.

Job referrals and placements can also be provided by the Public Employment Service Office, private employment agencies, registered contractors and sub-contractors, industry partners, and training institutions accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Career guidance and employment coaching can be availed of by the K-12 DOLE AMP beneficiaries from the Network of Career Guidance Counselors and Career Advocates.

For training and livelihood, the beneficiaries will be provided with skills upgrading programs through TESDA while the livelihood assistance will offer training and livelihood opportunities under the DOLE Kabuhayan Program.