Teachers’ Group Seeks Update from DepEd on Delayed 2023 Performance-Based Bonus

November 4, 2025 — Manila, Philippines. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has formally requested an update from the Department of Education (DepEd) regarding the long-delayed release of the 2023 Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for nearly one million teaching and non-teaching personnel across the country.

In a letter addressed to Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara, TDC National Chairperson Benjo G. Basas expressed the group’s appreciation for the secretary’s efforts in restoring DepEd’s eligibility for the PBB, describing it as a “renewed source of hope” for educators who have awaited the incentive for months.

Partial Submissions to DBM

Citing information from the Office of the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development (OUHROD), Basas said that as of October 28, 2025, only the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) had completed the review and submission of the required Form 1.0 to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for validation.

The remaining DepEd regional offices, he noted, are still undergoing internal review and consolidation of their respective documents.

“It has now been a week since that update, and we respectfully seek your guidance and confirmation on the current status of the regional submissions, the progress of review and endorsement by the Central Office, and the DBM’s validation process,” Basas wrote.

Call for Transparency and Timely Release

The TDC emphasized the need for transparency on the current processing stages to help determine a possible timeline for the release of the 2023 PBB.

Basas underscored the importance of the bonus, describing it as “a meaningful acknowledgment of teachers’ service and dedication amid the many challenges they face in schools and classrooms.”

The PBB, granted under the government’s performance-based incentive system, is intended to reward exemplary service among civil servants. However, delays in its release have been a recurring issue for DepEd employees over the past years due to documentation and compliance concerns.

Appeal for Continuity of Incentive Program

The teachers’ group also sought clarification on whether the PBB—or a similar incentive—will continue in the future, given that the program is currently under policy review. The TDC urged the department to ensure that educators remain covered by any revised incentive framework recognizing public sector performance.

Appreciation for Pro-Teacher Initiatives

In the same correspondence, the coalition commended Secretary Angara for several pro-teacher reforms, including the refinement of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) policy and the approval of the Wellness Break for educators.

“These initiatives reflect the DepEd leadership’s responsiveness to long-standing concerns of the teaching force,” Basas said, while expressing hope that the same attentiveness would extend to the resolution of the PBB issue.