PEI 2025 Released by Select SDOs Ahead of Official Presidential Issuance

Several Schools Division Offices (SDOs) have proceeded with the release of the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) for Fiscal Year 2025, notwithstanding the absence of an official issuance from the Office of the President authorizing the grant.

According to information posted by Ma’am Shiela Lim Manuel of NCR-ASSERT, the following SDOs have already implemented the release of PEI 2025 to qualified personnel:

• SDO Cagayan de Oro
• SDO Bataan
• SDO Masbate, with the release publicly announced by the Disbursing Section of DepEd Masbate

The early releases have drawn attention within the education sector, as the PEI is traditionally granted pursuant to a formal issuance from the Office of the President, typically through an Administrative Order that sets the amount, coverage, and conditions for entitlement. In previous years, this presidential authorization has served as the legal basis for government agencies to obligate and disburse funds for the incentive.

Despite the lack of an official presidential issuance as of this writing, the identified SDOs appear to have relied on internal assessments, available budgetary guidance, or precedents from prior years to justify the release. However, no uniform national directive from the Department of Education (DepEd) or the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) confirming the authority for PEI 2025 has been publicly circulated.