Starting in 2025, Public School Teachers to Receive P7K Medical Allowance, Says DepEd
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – Starting in 2025, public school teachers and other government employees will receive a P7,000 annual medical allowance as part of an expansion of their healthcare benefits.
This significant increase from the P500 medical allowance provided in 2020, which only covered specific diagnostic tests, is set to enhance support for health maintenance organization (HMO)-type benefits. The new allowance is introduced under Executive Order No. 64, s. 2024, signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the increased allowance could facilitate comprehensive insurance coverage when pooled together. This initiative reflects President Marcos’s commitment to improving benefits for government employees, as highlighted in his State of the Nation Address on July 22. Additionally, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman announced that the proposed P6.35 trillion national budget for 2025 includes nearly P10 billion earmarked for HMO benefits for government personnel. This move aims to provide better financial support for employees’ healthcare needs and underscores the administration’s focus on enhancing public sector benefits.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) is the executive branch of the Philippine government responsible for managing and overseeing the country’s basic education system. Established on January 21, 1901, DepEd is tasked with ensuring access to, promoting equity in, and improving the quality of basic education, which includes primary and secondary schooling.
DepEd’s mission is to provide quality basic education that is accessible to all and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. The department is led by the Secretary of Education, who is appointed by the President of the Philippines and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The current Secretary of Education is Sonny Angara.
Over the years, DepEd has undergone several reorganizations and name changes. Originally known as the Department of Public Instruction, it was renamed multiple times, including to the Department of Education and Culture, and later to the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports. In 2001, it became the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of the Governance of Basic Education Act. The department no longer handles cultural and sports activities, which have been transferred to other agencies. DepEd now focuses solely on basic education, including elementary, secondary, and non-formal education.