1.  The Department of Education (DepEd) has received reports of allegedly fraudulent representations in certain regions with regard to obtaining salary loans from accredited private lending institutions (PLIs) under the Department’s Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS) Program. These misrepresentations include the submission of documents either actual or falsified copies, such as payslips, government issued identification cards (IDs), Tax Identification Numbers (TINs), Permanent Appointment Papers, Assignment Orders, Certification of Compensation, Service Records, and other personal records, involving the following:

a. Unidentified persons or DepEd personnel, either currently or formerly employed, who allegedly posed as other DepEd personnel with active payroll accounts by using the latter’s illicitly obtained personal information (e.g. printed copies of government issued IDs posted in social media); and

b. DepEd personnel who allegedly submitted falsified pay slips to PLIs.

2.  It has reached this Department that there are still DepEd personnel serving as agents of PLIs despite the reiteration that such act is prohibited, as stated in DepEd Order (DO) No. 101, s. 2009: An official or employee who serves as an agent for the PLIs shall be deemed to have a conflict of interest and can be administratively charged or suspended for such. While the act, by itself, is already a violation, it also exposes the doer to the risk of being implicated in fraudulent representation.

3.  In view of the above, the Department wishes to take this opportunity to remind all DepEd personnel to be vigilant in guarding their personal information and to refrain from unnecessary sharing of personal documents or copies to the public, especially through social media, to deter possible perpetrators of fraudulent representation.

4.  All concerned are also reminded that dishonesty, falsification of official documents, and disclosing or misusing confidential or classified information by DepEd personnel, among other documents, are grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to DO 49, s. 2006 entitled Revised Rules of Procedure of the Department of Education in Administrative Cases.

5.  The bureau, service, and regional directors, schools division superintendents, and school heads are also directed to post this DO in conspicuous places, including schools’ bulletin boards.

6.  Immediate dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed.