Baldoz welcomes 119 returning HSWs turned DepEd teachers

“They are back for good, and they are definitely in better places right in their hometowns, and with their families and loved ones.”
 

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said this yesterday as she expressed delight over the 119 household service workers (HSWs) who have bagged Department of Education teaching positions in their respective hometowns through the Department of Labor and Employment’s ‘Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir’ (SPIMS) program.
 

“DepEd has already issued assumption and assignment orders to these 119 former HSWs out of the 150 Teacher I positions created by DepEd for qualified OFW beneficiaries under the DOLE-DepEd ‘Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir’ convergence program,” said Baldoz.
 

“The remaining 31 qualified OFWs are just waiting for the Notice of Organization, Staffing and Classification Action (NOSCA) and appointment orders, and some are still processing their requirements,” she added.
 

Baldoz also said that as of February 2016, the 814 OFWs who have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) have been profiled and endorsed to the DepEd for final evaluation and appointment as Teacher I.
 

“This continuing upward trend of OFW applicants signifies the efficacy of the program to re-direct OFW-teachers and even those who are in non-teaching profession to resume and pursue a teaching career in the country,” said Baldoz.
 

NRCO Director Chona Mantilla reported to Secretary Baldoz the following list of ‘Sa ‘Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir’ beneficiaries and their respective hometown regions:

National Capital Region: Josefino Anayas, Ramil Hontiveros, Joan Kirit, Lilia Openiano, Ariel Salvador, Imelda Bantayan. Region I: Gertrudes Baliclic, Alma Dela Cruz, Edith Delos Santos, Rosana Imasa, Annalyn Velle Macaraeg, Jackielou Mariano, Flory Niro, Divina Pagaduan, Mustapha Pama, Mary Ann Perez, Jocelyn Ramos-Limos, Lorna Tabernero.

 

Region II: Susana Balledo, Jay Ann Baracao, Reymyline Batag, Assen Shiera Biggayan, Rosemelinda Castillo, Veronica De Vera, Marilou Dela Cruz, Whelma Dela Cruz, Meliza Enriquez, Andrea Galamgam, Jolly Laconsay, Denia Lastimosa, Michel Omela, Olga Paler, Myrna Pataueg, Cristina Pimentel, Margarita Redoble, Janette Respicio, Ivy Rubilla, Arlyn Saet, Delia Saflor, Jay Marie Tacipit, Marjurie Taguba, Lavinia Tejada, Gina Tomas.Region III: Charrie Marie Buenaventura, Paul Eduard De Guzman, Ma. Gina Estrella, Mia Garcia, Arlene Gilledo, RubyRose Nieves, Crizalie Noche, Merlita Pabustan, Raquel Pacheco.

 

Region IV-A: Amalia Balestramon, Melchor Cabildo, Junaldine Dinglasan, Lorena Duran, Gloria Fabula, Brian Lim, Jesusa Paguia, Ar-Jay Peǹalver, Gareen Sy, Judith Valdez. Region IV-B: Roda Macadag-Um, Viavelyn Omisol, Alicia Vito. Region V: Elsie Balute, Emmanuel Cabral, Sherryl Dilao, Raquel Molina. Region VI: Dayana Abellanosa, Rochelle Balena, Arcile Bangcaya, Ma. Carmen Baylon, Francily Buenafe, Hazel Bune, Joel Dorego, Jeany Ruth Juarez, Joelyn Leonoras, Sceva Mahilum, Belle Malacad, Janelyn, Manzanilla, Maricel Moralista, Lora Jane Singalivo, Rodelyn Llorito. Region VII: Edsel Cajelo, Angie Cordova, Agustina Escarpe, Vanesa Espidion, Christine Lota, Vivien Rose Sabidalas, Mario Solana.

 

Region VIII: Windele Dago-Oc, Schenley Marie Vibar. Region IX: Marizon Ortega.
Region X: Hermenegilda Amerol, Reina Boncales, Miluz Bravo, Romeo Pardillo, Victor Rosales, Laraine Rubin.Region XI: Madelyn Bahala, Mary Chris Caballero, Novelyn Nacion, Josea Razon. Region XII: Maria Teresita Abo, Emilord Alegre, Roxanne Baniqued, Mary Grace Jimenez, Mary Grace Malvas, Michelle Rarican, Ruby Lyn Santos. CARAGA: Jiza Bucayon, Jonalyn Caduan, Daisy Dela Cerna, Helen Nalupa, Jonel Quiban. CAR: Daisy Buticon, Estrella Huminding, Vanessa Vicente.

 

As to occupation and number of qualifiers to the SPIMS, 95, or 64 percent of them worked as household service workers, followed by overseas teachers at 32 or 21 percent. The rest worked in other services sector as auto mechanic, customer service representative, and salon assistant. Majority of them belong to the 30-34 age bracket, while the youngest is 21 years old, and the oldest is 58.

 

Hong Kong topped the list of SPIMS applicants at 369; followed by Thailand, with 119; United Arab Emirates, 64; Qatar and Saudi Arabia, 46 each; Taiwan, 33; Singapore, 22; Israel, 16; Indonesia and Kuwait, 3 each; Macau, 10; China, 8; Lebanon, 7; Bahrain and Japan, 5 each; Canada and Ethiopia, 4 each; Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and United States of America, 3 each; Brunei, Mongolia, Spain, United Kingdom and Vietnam, 2 each; and Greece, Cambodia, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Netherlands, and Uganda, 1 each.

 

To facilitate a steady increase in the number of OFW applicants, the Department has instructed the NRCO and all the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) to continually promote the program using all possible means of communication.

 

Baldoz also said that for those needing to undergo refresher courses, particularly OFWs with no teaching experience or with experience but already beyond 5 years, NRCO will endorse them to Philippine Normal University (PNU) for the conduct of the refresher courses.

 

“So far, NRCO has endorsed a total of 367 applicants to the PNU for free Online Refresher Course. Based on PNU data, a total of 144 OFWs are active in their Learning Management System (LMS),” Baldoz said.

 

‘Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir is a component of the NRCO which aims to gain back the Filipino workers overseas, particularly the OFW LET Passers to reverse out migration by enhancing their skills and providing them option to stay in the Philippines to work as teachers. All program beneficiaries, including those who had undergone an online refresher course on teaching, are provided with teaching kits amounting to P10,000.00, sourced from the NRCO livelihood funds.
 
 

The salary of a public school teacher under the 2016 Salary Standardization Law (Teacher 1, entry level, Salary Grade 11, Step 1) in the Philippines is P19,077 per month, including a personal emergency relief allowance of P2,000. A teacher also receives a yearly benefit of clothing/uniform allowance of P5,000; a year-end bonus equivalent to one-month basic pay; a cash gift of P5,000’ performance bonus based on school performance; a productivity incentive of P5,000; proportional vacation pay up to 70 days; 14 days Christmas vacation with pay; and a chalk allowance of P1,000.
 
 

A public school teacher also receives other benefits and incentives, such as one-step increment pay for every three years of satisfactory performance; hardship allowance equivalent to 15 to 25 percent of basic pay if he/she is assigned in hardship posts and if he/she is a mobile teacher or multi-grade teacher. He/she could also receive honoraria for teaching overload but is subject for fund availability.
 
 

“Overall, a teacher’s pay is comparable to a HSW’s pay of US$400 a month, but our campaign for OFW teachers to return home is not anchored on pay alone. We would like them to consider seriously the high social cost of migration,” explained Baldoz.
 
 

A teaching kit, which will aid the beneficiaries in their areas of assignment, include a computer tablet, voice-aide lapel and head-worn microphone, 32 gigabyte SD card, sets of flash cards reference materials, and writing tools.
 
 

Sa ‘Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am/Sir program is open to all OFW LET passers with teaching experience within the last five years. Those who have teaching experience beyond five years, or have no teaching experience at all will need to undergo an online refresher course. An applicant must be an OFW who has arrived in the country for not more than three years based on the current year.