MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has increased the vacation service credits (VSCs) of public school teachers from 15 days to 30 days to ensure they are properly compensated for additional work, particularly during summer or long vacations.
In Department Order No. 13 series of 2024 signed by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, incumbent teachers with at least one year of service, as well as newly hired teachers appointed within four months after the start of classes are entitled to 30 days of VSCs annually.
Newly hired teachers whose appointments were released four months after the start of classes will receive 45 days of VSCs per year.
The order also calculates the provision for service credits beyond regular work hours, where every hour of eligible service rendered during school days will earn 1.25 hours of VSC, while services rendered during Christmas or summer breaks, weekends, or holidays will be equivalent to 1.5 hours of VSC per hour.
Teachers assigned for ancillary tasks and additional teaching-related duties outside of their regular hours will also benefit from the new guidelines. These tasks include attending training sessions on weekends or holidays, conducting remedial or enhancement classes, election-related duties, parent-teacher conferences, and home visits.
Teachers of Araullo High School look after their students during an earthquake drill on December 5, 2023. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
