Ropublic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

INTRODUCED BY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to increase the minimum monthly salaries of public
school teachers and all other government employees. It also aims to
increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance granted to all
government employees to P5,000.

The enactment of this proposal is urgent despite the issuance of
Executive Order 201, series of 2016, or the latest adjustment to the Salary
Standardization Law. The paltry salary increases it provides to lower-
and middle-level government employees are insufficient to provide a decent
standard of living for their families. For instance, entry-level (Salary Grade 1)

lity Worker, have been
an increase of P2,068 (from P9,000 to P11,068), spread out in equal tranches
over the next four years. This is equivalent to a monthly salary increase of P517,
or a mere P23.50 per day.

and

Teachers and nurses, who share an entry-level position of Salary Grade
11, have been given an increase of P2,205 monthly (from P18,549 to
P20,754), likewise spread out over four years. This means a monthly increase of
P551.25, ora mere P25.05 per day. Rank-and-file police, soldiers, and
other uniformed personnel are given mere provisional allowances of P1,457
after four years (an average of P264.25 p
P16.56 per day.

to augment thei
) to augment the!

Therefore, the latest adjustment to the Salary Standardization Law

has failed to fulfil the long-standing aspiration of rank-and-file personnel
racy for decent

who comprise the vast major
salaries that will afford them a humane standard of living,

As for teachers and non-teaching employees in both basic and
higher education in particular, government also still owes an unfulfilled
mandate. The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to “assign the



highest budgetary prierity 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 fulfilment’ (Article XIV,
Section 5 (5). In addition, Republic Act No. 4670, or The Magna Carta for Public

of schoo! teachers "shall compare

favorably with those paid in occupations requiring equivalent or similar
qualifications, training and abilities," that they shall be such as to insure
teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families"
(Section 15 (a) and (b)).

Another proposal to
Another proposal

to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA). This benefit
was first granted to government employees in 1991, in the amount of
P500 per month. Joint Resolution 4, issued by the House of Representatives
and the Senate on 17 June 2008, mandated that the P1,500 Additional

thenceforth be Sallectively referred to as PERA.

end that govern:

= se mandates is

‘An increase in the PERA will offer government personnel more
substantial relief from erosion of purchasing power of public sector salaries and
wages. Forthis purpose, this bill proposes that the PERA be increased to P5,000.

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



oN answne

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2027

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY

An ACT INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARIES OF PUBLIUC SCHOOL
TEACHERS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND AUGMENTING
THE PERSONNEL ECONOMIC RELIEF ALLOWANCE

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

SECTION 1. Reiteration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to alleviate the
living conditions of government employees and to guarantee employees ‘tights to living wage

The State policies of ensuring that education receives the highest budgetary priority 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 fulfilment are hereby reiterated.

In the formulation of decisions with regard to education reforms, the State shall likewise
hold paramount the protection and promotion of the right of citizens to quality education at all
levels and the rights of education workers to humane conditions of work and a living wage.

SECTION 2. Raising of the Minimum Salaries of Regular Employees in Government. -The
present salary of a regular entry-level position in government service shall not be less than
Sixteen Thousand Pesos (Php16,000) a month. The salaries of those occupying higher
Positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

SECTION 3. Raising of the Minimum Salaries of Public School Teachers in Basic
Education. — The present entry level salary of public school teachers shall not be Ikess than
Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (Php25,000) a month. The salaries of those occupying higher
positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

SECTION 4, Raising of the Minimum Salary Grade Level of Higher Education Teaching
Personnel. - The present entry level salary of teaching personnel in state and local universities
and colleges shall not be less than Twenty Seven Thousand Pesos (Php27,000) a month. The
salaries of all other teaching personnel occupying higher plositions shall be adjusted
accordingly

SECTION 5. Augmentation of the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance. ~ The Personnel
Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) is hereby increased from the present Two Thousand Pesos
(Php2,000) a month to Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000) a month. The PERA shall henceforth
be referred to as Augmented Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (APERA).

SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education, the Commission on
Higher Education, and the Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - 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 Funds needed in subsequent
years shall be included in the General Appropriations 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.


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

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.