Thesis (Master in Public Administration)--
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, 2010

This study looked into the utilization of the Provident Fund of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Division of Mountain Province for the year 2009 to 2010. It asserted the perceptions of the non-teaching and teaching staff on the level of attainment of the objectives of the Provident Fund of the Department of Education in the Mountain Province division. Likewise, it looked into the level of knowledge of the respondents on the policies and guidelines on the availing of the Provident Fund. Finally, it assessed the perceptions of the respondents on the degree of seriousness of the problems affecting the utilization of the Provident Fund on the DepEd in the division of Mountain Province. The respondents of this research consisted of 1,422 teaching personnel and 305 non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education in the Mountain Province division. The study used a questionnaire checklist as the primary data gathering tool which was substantiated be extensive casual interviews. Sandler’s A test which was used to determine the significant difference of the perceptions of the two groups of respondents on the level of attainment of the objectives and the degree of seriousness of the problems encountered. The square was used to determine the level of knowledge of the respondents on policies and guidelines. These statistical tests were pegged at 0.05 level of significance. The study concludes that all the objectives of the Provident Fund were much attained as reflected by the responses of the non-teaching and teaching group. The non-teaching group, which included the implementers, has a higher mean perception than the teaching group as to the perceived level of attainment of the objectives of the Provident Fund. The aim of the program, which is to provide DepEd employees with a reasonable and affordable percentage of interest on the loan, garnered the highest mean while the objective of providing sufficient fund in order to meet the needs of borrowers had the least mean. The study likewise concludes that the DepEd Provident Fund program is not fully advocated. This is the assumption based on the result of the knowledge test administered to the respondents of the study. The non-teaching and teaching groups were moderately knowledgeable on the policies and guidelines governing the DepEd Provident Fund program; however, the non-teaching group posted a higher mean perception. The failure of the program is blamed on the lapses committed in the implementation stage. Finally, the degree of seriousness of the problems affecting the utilization of the DepEd Provident Fund in the Division of Mountain Province is generally viewed as moderately serious. The problem “insufficient for loan” is seen as the much serious problem while the problem “borrower’s refusal to deduct the amortization on their loan from the payroll” is perceived to be the least serious of the problems identified. The study recommends that the teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education should petition the Board of Trustees of the DepEd Provident Fund through a resolution to facilitate the allocation of more funds from the national government. More appropriations will allow the Provident Fund program to accommodate more applications for loan and make possible for availing of the maximum loanable amount. The Human Resource Management Unit of the Department of Education should inculcate in their performance target the information dissemination regarding personnel benefits and opportunities particularly in the division level. To complement the target, DepEd personnel should transmit this need through a request to be inculcated during conferences, Educator’s congress and other fora of the employees to level-out al concerns affecting the program particularly on policies and guidelines and updates on matters regarding the Provident Fund. In view of the economic significance of the program and its credibility to deliver it promises, it is recommended to the Board of Trustees of the program, through the initiations of the division structural representatives, to push for the maximum funds allotment. This will guarantee the sufficiency of funds to cover loan applications, particularly those who are applying and are qualified for the maximum allowable amount for loan. Finally, an advocacy for a Progressive Teachers Association, capacitated to realize the aim of improving the teachers’ welfare particularly their salary and other remunerations should be initiated. Only through progressive measures could renewal in the system be possible to have a true economic freedom for our teachers.

Public Administration