EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No.
of li)r
'19 JUL -2 PI :15
RECEIVED SY;
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT INCREASING THE SALARY GRADE OF TEACHER I TO TEACHER I I I ,  
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill seeks to increase the salary grade of public school teachers in elementary 
and secondary schools who are currently classified as Teacher I, Teacher II and Teacher 
III from Salary Grade 11, 12, and 13, respectively to Salary Grade 13,14 and 15.
As espoused in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the State 
has the mandate to 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.
The Department of Education currently employs 889,700 personnel serving more 
than 27 million learners from public schools. Those employed as Teacher I, Teacher II 
and Teacher III make up 83% of DepEd's personnel. From 1989 to 1995, teacher pay at 
all levels were relatively stable before observing an increase in 1996. The next significant 
increase was in 2007 during the Arroyo Administration for teachers at all levels. 
Interestingly however, it is during this time that the equity in pay levels increased. This 
is observed through the increasing pay gap between Teachers M V and Master Teachers


M il. As of 2018, the gap in pay between a Master Teacher 1 and Teacher III was P13,861 
compared to P3,224 in 2007. As stated, this has resulted in increasing inequity between 
those filling the ranks of Teaches M il and higher positions.
To further illustrate this point, note that the starting saiary scheduie of Teachers 
M il increased by an average of oniy 11% when accounting for the pay increase per SG 
level from the first tranche in 2016 to the fourth tranche in 2019 (pursuant to Executive 
Order No. 201, Series of 2016). Meanwhile, anyone working as Master Teacher I, one 
level higher than Teacher III, would have experienced a similar increase of 21%.
Inadequate take-home pay for a majority of public school teachers has been a 
common complaint which is said to have led to their increased indebtedness. The logical 
argument that follows is that teachers take out loans because of their low pay and in time 
accumulate too much debt. And in order to remedy this problem, the obvious request has 
been to increase the starting pay of public school teachers.
Public School Teachers are in the forefront of national development, thus, they 
should be accorded the proper compensation by the government as has been provided 
for the nation's police officers and soldiers.
In view of the foregoing, support for the passage and 
is earnestly sought. 
/
lyal of this legislation
[ALIAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
First Regular Session 
]
SENATE
S. No. 
1 7 8
Jennie
' 
iDfficP of ll)f
*19 JUL-2 P1M5
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT INCREASING THE SALARY GRADE OF TEACHER I  TO TEACHER 
I I I ,  AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SEC. 1. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State
2 
to promote and advance the social and economic status of public school teachers
3 
in order to ensure that they enjoy the benefits commensurate to their invaluable
4 
role in national development. In pursuance of such policy, the State shall ensure
5 
that the teaching profession will attract and retain its rightful share of the best
6 
available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job
7 
satisfaction and fulfillment.
8 
SEC.2. Coverage. -  This Act shall apply to all public school teachers in the
9 
elementary and secondary schools who are presently classified as Teacher I,
10 
Teacher II and Teacher III.
11 
SEC. 3. Salary Grade Adjustment -  The modified salary schedule of
12 
Teacher I to Teacher III shall be as follows:


Current Salary Grade 
Level
Modified Salary Grade 
Level
Teacher I
Salary Grade 11
Salary Grade 13
Teacher II
Salary Grade 12
Salary Grade 14
Teacher III
Salary Grade 13
Salary Grade 15
1
2 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary for the implementation of
3 
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the year following
4 
its approval.
5 
SEC. 5. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from
6 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Budget and Management, in
7 
coordination with DepEd, shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines for
8 
the effective implementation of this Act.
9 
SEC. 6. Separability Cause. -  If for any reason, a provision or part hereof
10 
is declared invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
11 
and effect.
12 
SEC. 7. Repealing Cause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
13 
regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
14 
repealed or modified accordingly.
15 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
16 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,