Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles lauded the Department of Education for its efforts to protect teachers from falling prey to loan sharks by providing them legal and financial advice.
“Magandang hakbang ang planong ito ng DepEd sa pangunguna ni Vice President Sara Duterte upang maprotektahan ang ating mga guro laban sa mga loan shark at iba pang mapang-abusong uri ng pagpapautang,” Nograles said.
Last December, the DepEd also issued a memorandum that bans private lenders and loan sharks not connected with the agency from collecting payments at designated payout sites of the one-time service recognition incentive for public school teachers and non-teaching personnel.
The Vice President this week announced that her department has been coordinating with lawyer groups and other institutions to provide teachers with free consultations on loan contracts they might sign.
Nograles, who chairs the House Committee on Labor and Employment, said that Duterte’s move would mean that teachers are armed with enough knowledge before signing any loan contract.
“Dahil sa kagipitan, marami sa ating mga guro ang pumipirma ng mga kontratang ikapapahamak nila para may pangtustos sa kanilang pamumuhay, o ‘di kaya’y uutang para pambayad sa iba pang utang. We have to implement steps to ensure that their vulnerability is not taken advantage of by predatory lenders,” he said.
The Harvard-trained lawyer also said that he would be volunteering his services “to help our party-leader succeed in her efforts.”
Nograles said that he would engage his colleagues at legal aid foundation, Lakbay Hustisya, and urge them to offer their services to teachers. Lakbay Hustisya, which the solon founded, provides free legal consultations to indigent inmates.
Nograles, who chairs the House Committee on Labor and Employment, said that Duterte’s move would mean that teachers are armed with enough knowledge before signing any loan contract.
“Matagal nang hinaharap ng mga guro natin ang banta ng mga loan shark, at panahon nang kumilos tayo laban rito. Umaasa akong mas marami pang mga abogado ang mag-aalay ng kanilang tulong sa kanila,” he said.
Last December, the DepEd also issued a memorandum that bans private lenders and loan sharks not connected with the agency from collecting payments at designated payout sites of the one-time service recognition incentive for public school teachers and non-teaching personnel.
Teachers’ debt has been a long-standing issue in the agency.
According to DepEd, teachers’ outstanding loans and accrued interest to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) reached at least P157.4 billion in 2019.
