Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 8?

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate business establishments to grant discount privileges
to public school teachers whose earning capabilities are adversely affected by the
present economic situation in our country. They have been given little attention as far
as their protection, security of their physical and social well-being by the government

The worldwide economic crisis, high employment rate, soaring prices of basic
commodities have severely strained the capacity of the public school teachers to
provide a decent and dignified living necessitating the assistance and cooperation of the
State.

‘As provided in the 1987 Constitution, the State shall assign the highest
budgetary priority education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful
share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of
job satisfaction and fulfillment. [Article 14, Section 5(5)]

The bill seeks to grant special benefits and privileges to the public school
teachers such as, among others, discounts in transportation fares, health services,
hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities through the coordination and cooperation
of government with public and private entities. The imperative need to render assistance
to the public school teachers is not only in keeping with the social justice provision of
the Constitution to help them hurdle the economic hardships of the times but also a
fervent manifestation of our gratitude for all the services and sacrifices experienced by
them for the country.

Accordingly, the swift passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

87
HOUSE BILL No. ____

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

AN ACT GRANTING DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1.Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to give priority to the
needs of the public school teachers. Toward this end, it shall adopt a program that shall
uplift their social well-being and make essential goods, health, recreational and other
social services available to them at affordable cost.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. When used in this Act, the term “public school
teacher" shall refer to a Filipino citizen who is a permanent resident of the Philippines, is
an employee of the Department of Education, whether permanent, temporary, casual or
contractual, has an income of not more than Sixty Thousand Pesos (PhP 60,000.00)
per annum, and does not own real property with an aggregate assessed value of more
than Twenty Thousand Pesos (PhP 20,000.00).

SECTION 3. Public Transport Facilities. All government-owned and controlled
corporation or private entities, owning, operating, or managing public transport facilities,
whether land, sea, or air, shall give priority to the public school teachers, and provide
them with at least twenty-percent (20%) discount on all transportation fare within the

Philippines.

SECTION 4. Health Services. Public school teachers shall also be entitled to a
discount of at least twenty percent (20%) on fees or charges for hospital, medical, and
dental services rendered by public and private medical institutions and practitioners,

Drugstores and drug companies shall extend to the public school teachers a discount of
not less than twenty percent (20%) on the cost of medicines and supplemental vitamins,

as prescribed by a registered medical or dental practitioner.


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SECTION 5. Hotels, Lodging Houses, Restaurants, and Eateries. Public school
teachers shall be granted a minimum discount of twenty percent (20%) on rentals for
lodging in hotels, motels, inns, pension, or other lodging houses and on the cost of food
served in cafes, cafeterias, refreshment parlors, restaurants, soda fountain bars,
carinderia, or food caterers, and other similar establishments.

SECTION 6. Recreational Facilities. A minimum discount of twenty percent (20%) on
admission charged by theaters, cinema houses, and concert halls, circuses, carnivals,
and other similar places of amusement shall be granted to the public school teachers.

SECTION 7. Physical Fitness Fac!
physical fitness programs shall extend to public school teachers at a twenty percent
(20%) discount

jes. Any hospital, gym, or other facility offering

SECTION 8. Loans from Government Institutions. Government lending institutions
shall give priority to public school teachers in the grant of loans not exceeding Twenty-
Thousand Pesos (PhP 20,000.00) intended to provide capital for or to finance a
livelihood and other income-generating projects, subject to banking rules and

regulations.

SECTION 9. Limitation on discount privileges and other benefits. The discount
privileges and other benefits mentioned in this Act shall apply only to the personal
account of the public school teacher in payment for services and goods actually used by
him or her, These shall not extend to his or her relatives or companions who are not
qualified beneficiaries under this Act.

SECTION 10. Registration of Public Schoo! Teachers. A public school teacher who
qualified under this Act and who wishes to avail of the discount privileges and other
benefits provided herein shall be required to present his or her identification card issued
by the Department of Education every time the privilege is availed of the by the public
school teacher to the agency, association, company, or individual who granted the

discount.

SECTION 11. Deductions from Taxable Income. The amount of discounts granted in
pursuance of this Act shall be allowed as deductions in the computation of taxable
income by the public or private entitled and individual granting the discount; Provided,
however, that the tax deductions shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of its taxable
income; Provided, further, that the tax deduction under this section shall be evidenced
by copies of the ID cards presented by the public school teachers as provided in this
Act.


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SECTION 12. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education, in coordination
with the other concerned government agencies and in consultation with associations of
public school teachers and non-government organizations addressing the needs of the
public school teachers shall issue the rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act

SECTION 13. Penalties. Any person who refuses to extend the privileges and benefits
granted under this Act to a public school teacher entitled thereto after request and
proper identification of who unduly takes advantage of any such privileges or benefits,
or who violates any of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act, shall
suffer the penalty of prision correccional or a fine of not less than two hundred pesos
(PhP 200.00) nor more than six thousand pesos (PhP 6,000.00), or both such fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

In case the offender is a corporation, cooperative, partnership or association, the
penalty shall be imposed upon the president, manager, or officers thereof who had
knowingly permitted or were otherwise responsible for the commission of the offense. If
it can be shown that such refusal to grant discount privileges is a corporate decision, all
the members of the board shall be held liable.

In case of a succeeding offense, the penalties of both imprisonment and fine shall be
imposed in the maximum period. In addition thereto, such shall be sufficient cause for
the immediate cancellation of the professional license or permit to operate the business

or medical establishment.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. - |f any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full

force and effect.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved.