DepEd Wellness Leave 2026: Eligibility, Rules and Application Process
DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2026 provides eligible Department of Education personnel with up to five days of Wellness Leave per calendar year. This guide explains who is covered, how the leave may be used, and the procedures that personnel and school heads must follow.
What Is Wellness Leave?
Wellness Leave is a separate leave privilege that eligible DepEd personnel may use for mental health care, physical wellness activities, a general break from work, or other similar purposes consistent with the objectives of the policy.
The leave is intended to support personnel well-being, strengthen resilience, reduce the risk of prolonged absenteeism and employee turnover, and help maintain the quality of public service.
Who Is Covered?
The Order applies to eligible DepEd officials and employees in the Central Office, Regional Offices, Schools Division Offices, public schools, and Community Learning Centers.
It covers eligible personnel holding the following employment status:
- Permanent;
- Coterminous;
- Fixed-term;
- Contractual;
- Casual;
- Temporary;
- Substitute; and
- Provisional.
Contract of Service and Job Order personnel directly engaged by DepEd may also be covered, subject to the provisions of their individual contracts and applicable issuances.
Who Is Not Covered by the Order?
The following personnel are excluded from the coverage of DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2026:
- Contract of Service and Job Order personnel engaged through an agency or private firm, such as manpower service providers; and
- Personnel funded by a local government unit and merely detailed or assigned to DepEd.
Their Wellness Leave entitlement, if any, shall be governed by the policy of their respective agency or local government unit.
Key Rules on Wellness Leave
| Policy Rule | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Maximum entitlement | Eligible personnel may be granted up to five days of Wellness Leave in one calendar year. |
| Maximum consecutive use | Only a maximum of three consecutive days may be used at one time. The remaining days may be taken separately. |
| Separate leave benefit | Wellness Leave is separate and exclusive from vacation leave, sick leave, and other existing leave privileges. |
| Non-cumulative | Unused Wellness Leave cannot be carried over to the following calendar year. |
| Non-commutable | Unused Wellness Leave cannot be converted into cash or any monetary equivalent. |
| Subject to approval | Filing an application does not automatically authorize an absence. The application must be acted upon by the proper approving authority. |
| Confidentiality | Mental health-related and other sensitive personal information must be treated confidentially and processed in accordance with data privacy rules. |
Acceptable Purposes
Wellness Leave may be used for purposes including, but not limited to:
Activities, consultations, interventions, or periods of recovery intended to support mental and emotional well-being.
Activities that promote physical health, recovery, fitness, or general wellness.
A reasonable period of rest intended to support recovery from work-related stress or exhaustion.
Other circumstances consistent with the objectives of the Wellness Leave policy.
How to Apply for Wellness Leave
The application must generally be filed at least five days before the intended date of leave.
Teaching, nonteaching, and related-teaching personnel must use the prescribed CSC Form No. 6 and submit two original copies.
Until the Civil Service Commission issues a revised CSC Form No. 6, the applicant must indicate the leave under:
Item 6.A – Others: Wellness Leave (CSC MC No. 01, s. 2026)
The application shall then be processed in accordance with the prescribed signing authorities and applicable DepEd procedures.
Application Procedure for Teachers
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1Accomplish CSC Form No. 6. Prepare two original copies and indicate Wellness Leave under Item 6.A, “Others.”
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2Submit the application through the school head. The school head shall review the application and prepare the necessary class-continuity arrangement.
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3School head recommends approval. The school head shall recommend the application to the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, subject to the applicable signing authorities and division procedures.
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4HRMO certifies the leave credits. The Human Resource Management Officer shall reflect the total Wellness Leave credits, the number of days being applied for, and the remaining balance in Item 7.A of the leave form.
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5Await action by the proper approving authority. The proposed absence should be treated as approved only after the authorized official has acted on the application.
Emergency Cases
Advance filing is not required when an emergency prevents the employee from submitting the application before the absence.
The Order describes emergency cases as circumstances involving a sudden or significant deterioration in the employee’s mental or emotional state that prevents the safe or effective performance of essential job functions. These may arise from bereavement, accident, calamity, extreme conditions, or other situations that cause serious mental or emotional distress.
Responsibilities of School Heads
School heads must ensure that the grant of Wellness Leave does not interrupt the continuous delivery of classes and school services.
- Review and route applications through the prescribed process;
- Ensure continuity of classes and school services;
- Assign relievers for teachers who are granted Wellness Leave;
- Protect sensitive personal and mental health-related information; and
- Follow the applicable approving and signing authorities.
Teachers assigned to relieving duties may be eligible for teaching overload pay in accordance with DepEd Order No. 005, s. 2024 and any subsequent amendments.
Rules for COS and JO Personnel
Wellness Leave for school-based and office-based Contract of Service and Job Order personnel directly engaged by DepEd must be reflected in their individual contracts or other relevant engagement documents.
Covered COS and JO personnel must use the Wellness Leave Application Form provided as Annex A of DepEd Order No. 002, s. 2026.
Approved Wellness Leave shall be without salary deduction. The concerned COS or JO personnel shall continue to receive full compensation during the approved leave period.
Data Privacy and Confidentiality
All offices involved in the filing, processing, approval, monitoring, and recording of Wellness Leave must comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and relevant National Privacy Commission issuances.
Sensitive personal information, including mental health-related information, must be treated as confidential, used only for legitimate purposes, and accessed only by authorized personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellness Leave deducted from vacation or sick leave?
No. Wellness Leave is a separate and exclusive leave privilege.
Can all five days be taken continuously?
No. Only a maximum of three consecutive days may be used at one time. The remaining days may be taken separately, subject to approval.
Can Wellness Leave be used for a general break from work?
Yes. A general break from work is expressly included among the allowable purposes of Wellness Leave.
Does DO 002, s. 2026 require a medical certificate for every application?
The Order does not expressly require a medical certificate for every Wellness Leave application. Personnel must nevertheless comply with any lawful documentary requirement issued under applicable CSC, DepEd, or authorized office procedures.
Can an application be filed after the absence?
Yes, but only in an emergency case that prevented advance filing. The application must be filed immediately upon the employee’s return.
Who acts on a teacher’s application?
The school head recommends the application to the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, subject to the applicable DepEd signing authorities and division procedures.
Can unused Wellness Leave be converted into cash?
No. Wellness Leave is non-commutable and has no monetary equivalent.
What happens to unused leave at the end of the year?
Unused Wellness Leave is forfeited and cannot be carried over to the next calendar year.
Wellness Leave recognizes that employee well-being is essential to an effective education system. Personnel must comply with the prescribed filing and approval procedures, while school and office officials must process applications fairly, protect confidential information, and maintain the continuous delivery of classes and public services.
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