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TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4444

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE GERALD CLOYD ALEXIS V. GALANG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under Section 5 (5), Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution requires the State to

prioritize education funding and secure high-quality teaching by offering competitive
compensation and fulfilling work conditions. Despite this constitutional imperative,
teachers currently face a crisis characterized by unlivable wages, unsustainable
workloads, and critically deficient health benefits.

This healthcare crisis demands urgent legislative action. As the government bears a

constitutional duty to safeguard public health, comprehensive hospitalization and
healthcare benefits are essential to prevent teachers from suffering financial hardship due
to work-related illnesses or injuries.

To address this critical gap, this bill proposes strengthening healthcare access

through: establishing specialty centers and wards in DOH-retained hospitals; expanding
PhilHealth coverage; enhancing medical assistance programs; providing health-related
discounts; and granting dedicated mental health leaves for teachers and their dependents.

In light of these pressing needs and the State's constitutional obligations, the

immediate approval of this bill is urgently sought.

LD GALANG

2" Legislative District, City of Valenzuela


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metes Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4444

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE GERALD CLOYD ALEXIS V. GALANG

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

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 "Healthy Buhay at Hanapbuhay
Para sa Guro Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential health
and other social services available to all people, The State further recognizes the role of Filipino
teachers in the delivery of education services as a public and common good. Towards this end,
the State shall fulfill the right to health and promote the well-being of Filipino teachers and their
dependents through the provision of available, accessible, and affordable medical and healthcare
services.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all public and private elementary and
secondary school teachers, regardless of length of service and status of employment, and their
declared dependents.

SEC. 4. Special Centers and Hospital Wards Para sa Mga Guro. - The Department of
Health (DOH) is mandated to establish teachers’ health centers and to designate special wards
for teachers in all of its retained hospitals and specialty centers. Provided that no fees or expenses
shall be charged or paid by the teachers and their qualified dependents in public health facilities.

SEC. 5. Philhealth Plus Para sa Mga Guro. - All public and private school teachers,
regardless of their length of service and status of employment, shall be automatically covered by
the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH). The premium contributions of
public-school teachers shall be paid by the national government. Provided that the premium
contributions of private school teachers shall be equally shared by the educational institutions
and the national government. Provided further, PhilHealth is mandated to increase the health
benefits coverage of teachers and their dependents to at least twenty percent (20%).

SEC. 6. Medical Assistance Program Para sa Guro. - The DOH, DSWD, and DepEd
shall establish, harmonize, and strengthen their medical assistance program for teachers to
include, but not limited to, subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures for teachers and
their qualified dependents in private health facilities.

2


SEC. 7. Medical and Health Discounts Para sa Guro. - All teachers shall be entitled to a
ten percent (10%) discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the
purchase of medicines and other essential medical and health products.

SEC. 8. Mental Health and Wellness Leave. - All teachers shall be entitled to a mental
health and wellness leave of not more than five (5) working days per year. The mental health and
wellness leave shall be in addition to the regular vacation and sick leave entitlements provided
under existing laws.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education (DepEd)
and Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with concerned national government agencies,
teachers’ unions, and organizations, shall promulgate within ninety (90) days after the effectivity
of this Act the necessary rules and regulations for its effective and immediate implementation.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act shalll be provided in the General Appropriation Act.

SEC. 11. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, contributions, bequests, subsidies, or financial
aids received by government agencies for the implementation of this Act shall be exempt from
payment of taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code and the Local Government Code.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive orders,
letters of instruction, rules or regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,