REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF VACATION SERVICE CREDITS FOR TEACHERS

REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF VACATION SERVICE CREDITS FOR TEACHERS

Key Highlights on the Revised Guidelines on the Grant of Vacation Service Credits for Teachers (DepEd Order No. 013, s. 2024) 

What are Vacation Service Credits (VSC)? 

Vacation Service Credits refers to the vacation service credits or leave credits earned by public school teachers for services rendered during activities authorized by proper authorities during summer/long and Christmas vacation, weekends and holidays, and teaching overload. these credits are used to offset absences due to illness or to offset proportional deduction in vacation salary due to absences for personal reasons or late appointments.

Who is entitled to Vacation Service Credits? 

All public school teachers are entitled to VSC, with some limitations: 

• Incumbents: Up to 30 days per year.
• New hires:
• Appointed within 4 months of the school year: Up to 30 days.
• Appointed after 4 months: Up to 45 days (for the current year only).

• Teachers reassigned to non-teaching functions: Earn regular vacation and sick leave credits only.

Eligible Activities for Vacation Service Credits

Teachers can earn VSC for various activities performed outside of regular school hours, including:

• Remedial/enhancement classes (weekends, summer, Christmas break)
• Early school opening activities (Brigada Eskwela, Oplan Balik Eskwela, Enrollment)
• School sports competitions (divisional, regional, national)
• Youth formation and scouting activities (outside regular school days)
• Teaching overload not compensated by teaching overload pay (up to a certain limit)
• DepEd testing and assessment activities (outside school days)
• Trainings, seminars, and short-term DepEd projects (weekends, holidays, summer)
• Services related to teaching, learning, and development programs (School, Division, Region, National) held outside regular school days
• Services rendered before, during, and after a calamity (schools used as evacuation centers)
• Registration and election days (as mandated by law)
• Conferences with parents and home visits conducted beyond regular work hours
• Coaching, mentoring, and technical assistance by Master Teachers (outside work hours)
• Other teaching-related assignments beyond regular work hours (as defined by DepEd)
• Activities NOT Eligible for VSC

Activities already compensated during regular work hours are not eligible for VSC, such as:

• In-service training programs (fully funded)
• Tasks related to exhibits at fairs
• Counseling, mentoring, and coaching of students during weekdays (within regular school hours)
• Completing forms and reports related to school opening and closing (e.g., Year-End reports, SF7)
• Tasks performed as a result of designation or reassignment (non-teaching)
• Travel time for official activities (trainings, conferences, seminars, workshops)
• Personal or government-funded research

How to Earn Vacation Service Credits

• Before the activity, the school head or division chief submits a written request for VSC to the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) or Regional Director, specifying the activity, number of days, and duration.
• The SDS approves requests for school, district, and SDO-level activities, while the Regional Director approves regional-level activities. DepEd-wide activities require Undersecretary for HR&OD approval.
• After the activity, the school head submits documents like signed DTRs, accomplishment reports, attendance certificates, and approval memorandums.
• The school head consolidates and submits documents to the SDS within one month after the activity.
• HRMOs prepare a Special Order listing eligible teachers and earned VSC based on actual attendance, approved by the SDS.
• Personnel Unit records earned VSC in the employee's leave card.

Teaching Overload VSC

• Duly signed DTRs, School Form 7, Certification on Teaching Overload, and Certification of insufficiency of funds are required documents.
• HRMOs receive documents, prepare a Special Order listing eligible teachers and earned VSC, approved by the SDS.
• Personnel Unit records earned VSC in the employee's leave card.

Using and Availing VSC

• Accumulated VSC can be used for absences due to illness or offset deductions in vacation pay for personal reasons or late appointments.
• Teachers submit leave applications using the latest CS Form No. 6.
• The school head recommends approval/disapproval, followed by the Assistant SDS.
• HRMO processes the leave request and reflects accrued and used VSC on the leave form.
• For illnesses exceeding 5 days, a medical clearance/certificate or a notarized affidavit is required.
• Teachers indicate the reason for absence (illness/personal) and remarks (VSC applied/offset VSC deduction

Reference DepEd Order No. 013, s. 2024.

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
DepEd ORDER
No. 013, s. 2024

REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF VACATION SERVICE CREDITS FOR TEACHERS

To:

Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Bureau and Service Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Public Elementary and Secondary School Heads
All Others Concerned

1. The Department of Education (DepEd) issues the enclosed Revised Guidelines on the Grant of Vacation Service Credits for Teachers pursuant to Republic Act No. 4670 dated June 18, 1966, or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, Letter of Instructions No. 1509¹ dated January 6, 1986, issued by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., and the Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 41, s. 1998 or the Omnibus Rules on Leave.

2. The mechanisms, procedures, and standards stipulated herein shall guide all DepEd offices and schools, including the heads of offices, human resource management officers, and teachers on the implementation and administration of vacation service credits for public school teachers.

3. This Order shall take effect 15 days upon its approval and after publication on the DepEd website and registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) at the University of the Philippines Law Center (UP LC), UP Diliman, Quezon City. It shall remain in force until and unless otherwise repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.

4. DepEd Order (DO) No. 53, s. 2003² and its addendum, DO 84, s. 2003³, other DOs, instructions, rules and regulations, and other related issuances or parts that are inconsistent with this Order and its provisions are repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.

5. For any clarifications or inquiries, please contact the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-Personnel Division, Ground Floor Alonzo Building, Department of Education, DepEd Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at bhrod.pd@deped.gov.ph or telephone numbers (02) 8633-9345 or 8636-6546.