The Department of Education–National Employees Union (DepEd-NEU) is once again voicing strong support for Education Secretary Sonny Angara, while pushing to raise the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive to P20,000 for more than 60,000 non-teaching personnel nationwide.

According to DepEd-NEU national president Atty. Domingo Alidon, Angara’s leadership has made an immediate and tangible impact on the welfare of their members.

One of the most notable achievements under his watch is the initial P10,000 CNA incentive, hailed as a historic recognition of the dedication and service of administrative and non-teaching personnel.

“In the long history of the Department of Education, many leaders have come and gone,” Alidon said in a statement on Tuesday. “But Secretary Angara fundamentally changed the narrative for the rank-and-file. He’s the first Secretary who, within his very first year, charted an unprecedented course of genuine recognition — not just listening, but acting with resolve and integrity.”

While the P10,000 grant is being celebrated, the union is calling for an increase to P20,000, citing Department of Budget and Management policies that allow CNA incentives to go up to P30,000.

“We celebrate this historic P10,000 grant, but our story doesn’t stop there,” Alidon said. “This isn’t about greed. It’s about economic necessity, professional dignity and justice. We stand united in requesting an increase to at least P20,000.”

He added, “Our petition is firmly grounded in existing DBM guidelines, which clearly allow CNA incentives of up to P30,000. This is both legal and fair, and we hope the Department acts on it.”

With this push, DepEd-NEU is signaling a commitment to ensuring that non-teaching personnel are recognized and rewarded for their essential contributions to education.