DepEd explores ways to resolve unremitted gov’t premiums, loan payments
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The Department of Education on Saturday said it is exploring ways to resolve the delayed remittance of premiums and loan payments to the Government Service Insurance System and similar agencies.
"The current Administration of the Department of Education is aggressively looking into various ways to address the subject of unremitted premiums and contributions — a recurring issue spanning years caused by system incompatibility and timing differences, among others," it said in a statement.
This came after the Commission on Audit earlier flagged the DepEd's failure to remit more than P5 billion worth of taxes and contributions deducted from the salaries of its teaching and non-teaching personnel.
According to COA, the unremitted DepEd funds were at least the premium contributions and loan amortizations mostly involved the GSIS, exposing the employees to penalties and depriving them of loan privileges.
In response, DepEd said it has been conducting regular meetings with the GSIS to thresh out all teaching and non-teaching personnel concerns since February this year.
"In fact, on 25 September 2023, a Memorandum of Agreement was forged between DepEd and the GSIS to streamline services for our personnel. Included in the MOA is the designation of GSIS account officers that will exclusively respond to DepEd matters," it added.
The country's auditors earlier recommended that DepEd should immediately remit all contributions deducted from the salaries to avoid any penalties.
The DepEd said it is currently conducting "reconciliation activities with the GSIS" at the Central, Regional, and Division levels of the Department.
"We would like to emphasize that the Commission on Audit is well aware of the steps being taken to resolve this matter, which is why in the same Consolidated Annual Audit Report, COA rendered an Unqualified/Unmodified Opinion in favor of DepEd — a first in the Department's history," it noted.
The DepEd vowed it will "not stop seeking long-term strategies that are beneficial to our dedicated employees and workforce."