Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for protection for teachers amid the reported unfair debt collection practice so-called ‘utang tagging’ policy where license professionals are allegedly prevented from renewing their Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licenses.
“Hindi natin dapat iniipit ang lisensya ng ating mga guro dahil sa kanilang pagkakautang. Ang ganitong klase ng panggigipit at pang-aabuso sa ating mga guro ay hindi dapat natin pinalalagpas. Tungkulin nating protektahan at itaguyod ang kapakanan ng mga guro na marami nang isinasakripisyo para sa pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon,” said Gatchalian.
Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, denounced how teachers’ licenses were supposedly taken hostage because of their non-payment of loans.
House Assistance Minority Leader and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Rep. France Castro earlier floated the possibility that loan sharks with connections to the PRC may be behind the ‘utang tagging’ scheme.
According to Castro, affected teachers have loans from lending schemes that carry exorbitant interest rates and are not accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd).
While the policy has been suspended by the PRC, Gatchalian reiterated the need to protect teachers from unfair debt collection practices.
Gatchalian stressed that due to the unfair policy being imposed on professionals, there is an urgent need for the passage of Senate Bill No. 818 or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Under the proposed measure, a debt collector shall not engage in any conduct that will harass, oppress, or abuse any debtor in connection with the collection of a debt.
The use or threat of violence; disclosure, publication, or posting of names and other personal information of the borrowers; and the use of obscene or profane language; among others are prohibited under the proposed legislation
SB 818 also provides that a debt collector shall not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. It also prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt.