The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines welcomes the pronouncement of newly-appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara to suspend the Results-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS), calling it a positive first step in the right direction and emphasizing the need for further action.
“We are pleased that Secretary Angara has heeded our call to suspend the RBPMS. This was our priority request during our initial dialogue with him and on July 19, 2024, the day he assumed DepEd’s leadership,” said Vladimer Quetua, ACT Chairperson.
Quetua emphasized that the suspension of RBPMS aligns with Executive Order No. 61, s. 2024, which mandates the immediate suspension of both the RBPMS and the Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS).
“The suspension of RBPMS will provide much-needed relief to our teachers who have long been burdened by excessive paperwork and administrative tasks that take away time from school opening preparations and activities and actual teaching. We also urge Sec. Angara to immediately revoke DepEd’s commitment to the Civil Service Commission for the submission of the Individual Performnce Commitment Form (IPCRF) which proved to be burdensome to teachers. If the CSC requires for the submission of performance evaluation, an alternative should be crafted by DepEd together with teachers’ unions,” Quetua added.
While acknowledging this positive development, ACT has requested another dialogue with Secretary Angara to comprehensively discuss other pressing issues affecting teachers and the education sector.
“We look forward to another productive dialogue with Secretary Angara soon, to address crucial matters such as substantial salary increases, the DepEd 2025 budget, career progression, and teaching overload. We hope that the new DepEd leadership will continue to be responsive to the needs and welfare of teachers and education workers and prioritize our concerns which were not given due attention by the past Secretary,” Quetua concluded.
