HOUSE °F REPRESENTATIVES
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Gea 2016
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ES peersTR ation UNIT
BILLS 2ND INDEX SERVICE

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HONORABLE PABLO C. ORTEGA.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create in the Department of Education (DepEd) the plantilla position
of guidance counselor in every public elementary school division. Republic Act No. 9258,
otherwise known as the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004,” provides for the
professionalization of the practice of guidance counseling. It promoted the improvement,
advancement and protection of the guidance and counseling services profession.

In today's complex and increasingly diverse society affected by new technologies,
young people face diverse challenges that may affect their growth, both personally and
developmentally. It is imperative that these young people are appropriately guided as these
pressures may have an impact on their educational experiences and achievements.

The guidance counselor will play an indispensable role in facilitating communication
among students, teachers, administrators and parents to make the learning environment as
conducive as possible, devoid of pressures and intimidation. Most importantly, the guidance
counselor focuses on the academic, personal and social development stages of the pupils.

However, the DepEd has guidance counselor positions only in all high schools. In the
elementary level, the teacher-in-charge serves as the guidance counselor and adviser to the
pupils. But, the teacher-in-charge does not have the expertise of a professional guidance
counselor which can help these pupils particularly in their formative years. With an
accredited guidance counselor in all of the public elementary division in the country, we hope
to improve the survival rate of enrollees in the basic education in support to the targets in the
Sustainable Development Goals particularly of Goal 4 on Quality Education.

In view thereof, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

PABLO C. ORTEG:


Republie of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

3458

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by HONORABLE PABLO C. ORTEGA

AN ACT
CREATING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE PLANTILLA
POSITION OF GUIDANCE COUNSELOR IN EVERY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL DIVISION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Department of Education is hereby mandated to create the plantilla
position of guidance counselor in every public elementary school division.

SECTION 2. The salary grade of guidance counselors shall be equivalent to the
salary grade of head teachers.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Education shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall
be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Education. Thereafter, such amount
necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.