DUTERTE TELLS TEACHERS: AVOID INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS ON

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Department of Education (DepEd) has directed its employees to avoid making
contact with students outside of the school setting, including on social media.

“Avoid relationships, interaction, and communication, including following social media

with learners outside of the school setting, except if they are relatives,” the order signed
by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte stated.

The directive is among the provisions of DepEd Order 49 dated Nov. 2, amending a
previous order on the promotion of professionalism in the delivery of basic education
programs and services.

DepEd recently launched a hotline where students can directly report incidents of
abuse, amid allegations of sexual harassment against teachers in several schools.

Duterte said there should be a clear separation between teachers and students to avoid
controversies. She added a personal relationship between a teacher and a student
could lead to bias towards the learner.

“Of course, relationships, may problema 'yan. Isa rin ito sa nakita naming recent
incidents ng teachers na lumalabas with their students and they’re involved in should
we say not really criminal activities but they’re involved in crime," she said, citing an
instance where a teacher was stabbed by his student during a drinking session.

[Translation: Of course we have a problem with relationships. There were also incidents
where students hang out with their students and they end up getting involved in
crimes.]

DepEd tells personnel: Don’t "disparage" the agency, coworkers

The same department order also reminded employees to avoid slandering the agency
or colleagues online. It said they should remain mindful of the agency’s reputation.

Duterte said issues and concerns should be raised through proper channels.

“Failure to comply with the abovementioned acts shall mean outright denial of any
request or appeal for consideration in the Office of the Secretary,” the secretary said.

This portion of Department Order No. 49 was questioned by House Deputy Minority
Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, which she said essentially
"muzzles" the freedom of speech of DepEd employees online and offline.

"Why does the Department of Education feel the need to create such an order that gags
and threatens teachers and education support personnel, which treats them as mere
creatures only of the school, and dehumanizes them preventing them to exercise their
right to free speech, expression, to organize and be able to voice out their grievances?"
Castro asked.

Instead of creating such policies, the lawmaker advised DepEd to solve education-
related problems.

Employees were also reminded to refrain from soliciting donations from politicians for
projects or activities.

In relation to Administrative Law

The Office of the Secretary (OSec) provides overall leadership and direction at the
national level. Attached and support agencies to the Department of Education are
included under the OSec.

OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY

The Secretary exercises supervision and control over the entire department and
performs the following functions:

Advises the President on matters related to education.

Establishes the policies and standards for the operation of the Department pursuant to
the approved programs of the government.
Promulgates rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, policies,
functions, plans, programs and projects of the Department.
Promulgates issuances necessary for the efficient administration of the offices under
him and proper implementations of laws relative to education.
Exercises disciplinary powers over officials and employees in accordance with existing
laws.
Formulates and enforces a management control system to measure and evaluate
performance of the Department and submits periodic reports to the President.
Prepares and submits to the President through the Department of Budget and
Management the budget of the Department.
Appoints all officers and employees of the Department except those whose appointment
is vested in the President.

Under Administrative Code of 1987 Book IV:

SECTION 3. Department Proper.—(1) Unless otherwise provided in this Code or by law,

the Department proper shall include the Office of the Secretary and the staff units
directly under it. The Office of the Secretary shall consist of the Secretary and the
Undersecretary or Undersecretaries, together with the personnel in their immediate
offices;

(2) Every Secretary shall be assisted by such number of Undersecretaries as may be

provided for by this Code or by law;
The Undersecretary shall perform the functions as provided in Chapter 2 of this Book;

(3) Whenever necessary, Assistant Secretary position or positions may be created to

form part of the Department proper; and

(4) In the absence of special provisions, the major staff units of each department shall
be the services which shall include: the Planning Service, the Financial and
Management Service, the Administrative Service, and when necessary, the Technical
and Legal Services.

SECTION 4. Jurisdiction over Bureaus, Offices, Regulatory Agencies and Government

Corporations.—Each Department shall have jurisdiction over bureaus, offices,
regulatory agencies, and government-owned or controlled corporations assigned to it by
law, in accordance with the applicable relationship as defined in Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of
this Book.

Prepared by: Adel Benjamin Delica

Sources:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/25/executive-order-no-292-book-iv-the-
executive-branchchapter-1-the-departments/

https://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/central-office/office-of-the-secretary-functions/

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/11/4/DepEd-staff-teachers-students.html