MANILA, (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, Aug. 10, announced that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the release of the World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) amounting P1,000 per public school teacher for 2021.

"The release of the benefit is in line with the government’s commitment to faithfully support our teachers for their dedication in delivering quality education,” DepEd told PIA-NCR.

“With the ongoing preparations for School Year 2021-2022, we are grateful to our 900,000-strong teachers who have displayed their unwavering passion to serve and educate the Filipino youth,” the DepEd said.

“We shall issue the corresponding guidelines on the grant of the said incentive soon,” it added.

For 2021, the DepEd said the WTDIB will be at a total cost of P910 million.

Introduced during the administration of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, the grant of WTDIB recognizes the “vital role of our educators” in addressing the challenges of the pandemic — especially in ensuring the continuity of learning.

The World Teachers’ Day (WTD), also known as International Teachers Day, is an international day held annually on Oct. 5.

In the Philippines, a month-long celebration to recognize the significant role of teachers in educating the Filipino children is held through the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) starting Sept. 5 before its culmination on Oct. 5 — in celebration of the National Teachers’ Day (NTD) and WTD. (DepEd/PIA-NCR)