By Jerome Carlo Paunan
MANILA (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) granted up to five days of wellness leave annually for all teaching and non-teaching personnel, part of efforts of the Marcos Jr. administration to support mental health and overall well-being amid increasing demands in the education sector.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said the policy demonstrates the department’s commitment to caring for employees at all organizational levels, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen employee welfare and promote mental health across the public sector.
“Ito ay handog natin sa bawat kawani ng DepEd, mula sa central office hanggang sa mga rehiyon, division offices, paaralan, at community learning centers, at anuman ang kanilang employment status. Kinikilala natin na ang kanilang kalusugan, lalo na ang mental health, ay mahalaga sa patuloy nilang paglilingkod sa ating mga mag-aaral,” Angara said.
Under guidelines aligned with Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 01, series of 2026, the wellness leave covers all qualified officials and employees, including those in permanent, temporary, casual, contractual, coterminous, substitute and provisional positions, as well as Contract of Service and Job Order personnel directly hired by the department.
The wellness leave is separate from existing vacation and sick leave benefits and may be used for mental health care, physical wellness activities or simply rest to recover from work.
Personnel may use the leave continuously for up to three days at a time or intermittently throughout the year, depending on their needs and subject to approval procedures.
To protect employee privacy, any mental health-related information disclosed in the application process will be treated as confidential and handled in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Applications for wellness leave must be submitted at least five days before use, except in emergency situations. The leave cannot be accumulated or converted to cash if unused within the year.
Angara said the initiative aligns with national policy promoting workplace mental health and aims to strengthen employee resilience while ensuring continued delivery of quality education.
“Kapag inaalagaan natin ang ating mga guro at kawani, mas nagiging matibay ang ating mga paaralan,” he said.
“Ito ay pamumuhunan hindi lamang sa ating workforce, kundi sa kinabukasan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” he added. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
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