Education Secretary Sonny Angara asks financial institutions for 3-month teacher loan moratorium, to ease the burden experienced by the professionals amid recent tropical storms.

Angara Proposes 3-Month Loan Moratorium to Teachers Affected by Typhoon

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Friday, November 29, that it requested private financial institutions to implement a loan moratorium for teaching and non-teaching staff impacted by the recent tropical storms.

According to GMA News report, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, in his request letter, proposed a three-month loan moratorium starting January 2025, with payments set to resume in April 2025.

“I sincerely hope that, in times of need, even the private sector, including the esteemed financial institution, would find reason to extend to them this much-needed help,” said Angara.

Additionally, the moratorium will cover all DepEd personnel living or working in areas classified as calamity zones by the Office of the President, local government units, or the Office of Civil Defense since September 2024.

DepEd Collabs with BSP

The DepEd also sought a moratorium on loan payments scheduled for December 2024, with payments resuming in January 2025. This request includes the suspension of all associated charges, fees, and interest.

The department submitted a similar request to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

To support these requests, the DepEd collaborated with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to ensure that loans under the moratorium, especially from December 2024 to March 2025, are not categorized as non-performing loans.

Philippine Typhoons Which Caused Widespread Damage

Over the past three months, several tropical storms have impacted the Philippines, leading to widespread damage and displacement:

Tropical Storm Kristine

In late October, Trami brought heavy rains, landslides, and flooding, severely affecting regions in Luzon and the Bicol peninsula, with millions experiencing power outages​.

Typhoon Nika

Also in November, Nika made landfall in Aurora, causing extensive flooding and power disruptions across several provinces

Typhoon Ofel

Earlier in November, this storm caused significant damage in northern Luzon, prompting evacuations and blocking roads due to landslides

Typhoon Pepito

This storm struck in mid-November, reaching near-super typhoon intensity with sustained winds of 185 km/h.

It caused severe flooding and displaced thousands, particularly in Luzon provinces like Aurora and Isabela​.

These storms contributed to a notably active and devastating typhoon season, with the Philippines facing compounded effects from overlapping weather events.