Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2142

Introduced by REP. ANTONIO L. TINIO
ACT TEACHERS PARTY LIST

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill aims to upgrade the minimum salary grade level of public school teachers
in the elementary and secondary schools from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15 in
order to motivate and maintain highly qualified teachers in the country.

As stated in Article XIV, Sec. 5.5 of the Philippine Constitution, the State “shall
assign the highest budgetary priority to 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.” In addition, R.A. No. 4670 otherwise
known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers mandates the following criteria for
salaries of public school teachers:

1) “They shall compare favorably with those paid in other occupations requiring
equivalent or similar qualifications, training and abilities” (Sec. 15a);

2) “They shall be such as to insure teachers a reasonable standard of life for
themselves and their families” (Sec. 15b).

The current pay scheme of government fails to fulfill these criteria. Salaries of
public school teachers do not compare favorably with other occupations in government.
A duly licensed professional teacher occupying the entry-level position of Teacher I, with
a monthly salary of P15,649, earns substantially less than a high school graduate who
enters the Philippine Military Academy as a cadet, with a monthly salary of P21,709 per
month. Neither does teachers’ pay compare favorably with those employed as call center
agents in the private sector. The salary for call center employment, which requires neither
formal education nor bachelor’s degree, ranges from P12,500 to P20,000 a month.

Public school teachers” salaries are currently unable to “insure a reasonable
standard of life for themselves and their families.” According to the Alliance of
Concerned Teachers, the family living wage in the National Capital Region, estimated at
P9S7 per day or more than P21,054 per month, is in sharp contrast with the P15,649
monthly salary of a Teacher I. In order to cope with this “living salary gap,” teachers
resort to borrowing and are heavily indebted to government financial institutions such as
the GSIS, private lending institutions, or loan sharks.



This situation has obviously pushed some of our best teachers out of the country,
to seek better pay and working conditions overseas. There is a huge gap in salary levels
of teachers in the country compared with those abroad. For example, Filipino teachers
who choose to practice their profession in the United States receive annual salaries
ranging from P1.5 to P2.1M. Meanwhile, an entry-level Teacher I receives P203,437
annually. Sadly, due to the low pay, many of our teachers migrate to work not as teachers
but as domestic helpers, nannies, or caregivers.

The effort of the government to upgrade the educational system cannot succeed for
as long as teachers are taken for granted. Facilities and equipment are as good as the
people who manage and operate them. Teachers in dire conditions can never be expected
to turn in good quality students and future leaders of our land.

For the above-cited reasons, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly urged.

TONIOT. TINIO
Representative
ACT Teachers Party List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2142

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. ANTONIO L. TINIO
ACT TEACHERS PARTY LIST

AN ACT UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO 15

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Public School
Teachers’ Salary Upgrading Act”.

SECTION 2. Reiteration of Policy. The policy of the State “to ensure that
education receives the highest priority in governance, and 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” is hereby reiterated.

SECTION 3. Raising of the Minimum Salary Grade Level. The present
minimum salary grade level of public school teachers in the elementary and secondary
schools shall be upgraded from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15. Salary grade levels
of those occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

SECTION 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover all public school teachers in the
elementary and secondary level, whether nationally or locally funded, including those in

technical and vocational schools and state universities and colleges.

SECTION 5. Priority in Budget Allocation. The Government shall appropriate
such amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. Provided, that
the salary increase of public school teachers shall take priority over non-educational and

non-agricultural budgetary allocations.


SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education and the
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and

regulations of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriation. The initial funding required for the implementation
of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch of the government
and other possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the President, and
subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the year

following the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed,
SECTION 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved.