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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE IRENE GAY F. SAULOG 
KALINGA PARTY-LIST 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and 
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. (Article II, Section 13, 
1987 Constitution). Moreover, Article II, Section 15 states that the people’s right to health shall 
be protected and promoted by the State. 
Guidance counselors perform an important role in the public-school system. They provide 
career guidance and counseling to the students. With the passage of the Mental Health Act, 
guidance counselors are mental health professionals who provide a myriad of mental health 
services which includes psychosocial, psychiatric, or neurologic activities.   
With the increased attention paid to mental health issues nowadays, it is important that 
there be an adequate number of guidance counselors in public schools. The continuing vacancy 
in many guidance counselor positions is alarming. This shortage means that many students do 
not receive proper guidance regarding career choices. Worse, this also means that even more 
students do not have access to a qualified professional who can help them with their problems of 
diverse nature. 
September 19, 2022
4:23 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE IRENE GAY F. SAULOG 
KALINGA PARTYLIST 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF PUBLIC-SCHOOL GUIDANCE 
COUNSELORS FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 12, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFROM  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
social well-being. In this regard, the State shall ensure that there are adequate guidance 
counselors in public schools to help the students receive services including but not limited to 
career guidance, counseling, and mental health. 
SEC. 2. Raising the Minimum Monthly Salaries of Public School Guidance 
Counselors. – The minimum monthly salaries of guidance counselors is hereby raised from 
Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 12. The salaries of those occupying higher positions shall be 
adjusted in increments of two Salary Grades. Thus, the next higher position shall have Salary 
Grade 14, followed by Salary Grade 16 for the next higher position, and so forth. 
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SEC. 3. Coverage. – This Act shall cover all guidance counselors, as defined by existing 
laws, in all public schools in the elementary and secondary levels, whether nationally or locally 
funded, including those in technical-vocational schools and state universities and colleges. 
 
 
 
SEC. 4. 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 
guidance counselors in public schools shall take priority over non-educational and non-
agricultural budgetary allocations. 
 
 
 
SEC. 5. Budget Requirement. – The Department of Education shall come up with a 
specific programmed budget to cover the expenses for the upgrading in salary levels for all 
corresponding guidance counselor plantilla positions for a period of at least five (5) years to 
allow the Department of Budget and Management to make the necessary budgetary adjustments 
to facilitate the smooth implementation of this Act. 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the year following the approval of this 
Acts. 
 
 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education and the 
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for 
the implementation of this Act. 
 
 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, executive issuances, 
resolutions, orders or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 


 
 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,