THE Schools Division Office (SDO) 1 Pangasinan has denied allegations that the salaries and year-end benefits of public school teachers were delayed in December 2025, amid complaints that the supposed delays caused financial stress during the holiday season.

Anonymous complainants earlier reported concerns over the late release of teachers’ salaries as well as benefits such as the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI), Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), and Performance-Based Bonus (PBB), saying the issue added pressure on educators during the yuletide period.

In response, SDO 1 Pangasinan said the allegations were inaccurate, asserting that salaries and incentives were released on time or ahead of schedule.

According to the division office, salaries covering the period from December 1 to 15 were released on December 15, while pay for the period from December 16 to 30 was released on December 22. The office also reported that the first tranche of the P 10,000 SRI for fiscal year 2025 and the P 5,000 PEI were both released on December 26, while the

Performance-Based Bonus for 2023 was released on December 1, with amounts varying by personnel.

While the division office maintains that there were no delays, teacher concerns surfaced as year-end expenses peaked, highlighting continued sensitivity over the timing and communication surrounding salary and benefit releases.

No formal complaint has been filed as of this writing. (Ahikam Pasion)