By Merlina Hernando-Malipot  A federation of teachers on Thursday, June 4, accused the Department of Education (DepEd) of “violating its own" directive after its local officials reportedly compelled some public school teachers to perform work both in school and in their communities during their first week of reporting back for duty. (JOJO RINOZA / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines alleged that the DepEd issued an “apparently empty memorandum” on no physical reporting from June 1 to 5. DepEd, the group said, also failed to install mechanisms to prevent physical reporting of its teaching personnel and criticized the agency for “risking” the lives of teachers amid the COVID-19 situation in the country. Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued DepEd Memorandum No. 54 s. of 2020 citing that “all teachers in DepEd schools nationwide shall work from home from June 1 to 5,” except for those specifically authorized by the Regional Directors to form part of the skeleton workforce who will render work in school, subject to observance of COVID-19 health and safety precautions. This move, she explained, is to “avoid risks of exposure” pending the finalization of work arrangements by the heads of offices upon the issuance of the comprehensive guidelines. ACT also said that it has received receiving reports of ground officials in Cebu province, Bohol, Baguio, Camarines Sur, Albay, Negros Oriental, Manila, Bulacan, and Pangasinan of DepEd local officials who compelled teachers, explicitly or implicitly, to physical report for work. “While DepEd refuses to recognize the realities on the ground, it wagered on the teachers’ health and safety on the first week of work resumption,” ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio. “The past few days proved that DepEd’s last-minute order was merely a PR stint meant to deodorize the agency's image amid the numerous complaints of teachers regarding the agency's unpreparedness,” he added. Basilio noted that the most prevalent reasons raised by teachers for coming to work despite the issuance of DM 54 s.2020 were their lack of reliable laptop and/or internet connection at home and principals “obliging them to work in school premises, visit students in their homes, or posting announcements in communities to encourage enrolment.” ACT noted that it has also documented complaints about schools’ failure to put in place minimum health standards, as already parents have been flocking to schools to enroll their children. “Worse scenarios are yet to come as on-site reporting and enrollment is expected in the coming weeks,” Basilio said. ‘Out-of-touch’ Meanwhile, ACT also accused DepEd for “slacking off again” on its crucial work of ensuring school safety amid the pandemic. “It has yet to issue clear, comprehensive, and grounded guidelines for the coming days, nor has it instituted safety measures at the school level,” Basilio said. “DepEd’s time is spent more on sloganeering and patting itself on the back for its out-of-touch ‘plans’ for the school year, while teachers are grappling on the ground to continue their service to the people,” he added. Given this, ACT called on DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones to “immediately report” on health and safety measures the agency is preparing for the coming weeks and beyond “when more and more teachers, staff, and learners are expected to physically come to school.” ACT further challenged Briones and other DepEd key officials to visit the communities of learners and their schools to see how “out-of-touch” DepEd’s Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) is when it comes to the “real situation” of most Filipino families amid the COVID-19 crisis.