TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar 2nd District Rep. Edwin Ongchuan has welcomed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) new policy granting overtime pay to public school teachers, describing it as a “long-overdue recognition” of their sacrifices.
The policy, issued under DepEd Order No. 26, series of 2025, entitles teachers to 125 percent of their hourly rate for overtime on weekdays and 150 percent on weekends, holidays, and special non-working days. Teachers may also opt to convert excess hours into vacation service credits, giving them the choice between monetary or non-monetary benefits.
Ongchuan, who serves as vice chair of the House committee on appropriations, thanked Education Secretary Sonny Angara for approving the measure.
He noted that he has long pushed for initiatives to improve the welfare of educators, including increased hazard pay for teachers on election duty.
“This is a significant step toward valuing teachers as frontliners in our education system,” Ongchuan said. “It affirms the dignity of their work and provides fair compensation that strengthens morale and professional well-being.”
The congressman said the new overtime pay policy complements earlier efforts to streamline teachers’ duties and clarify overload compensation, signaling a more holistic approach to addressing their workload.
He pledged to continue collaborating with DepEd and other stakeholders to advance policies that protect teachers’ rights and improve their working conditions.
Education advocates have long called for measures to reduce or properly compensate the extra hours teachers spend preparing lessons, supervising activities, and supporting students beyond classroom hours. With this latest reform, Ongchuan said, the sacrifices of teachers are “finally being acknowledged and rewarded in concrete terms.”
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
