Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1st Regular Session
1895
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIV, Section 5 (5) of the 1987 Constitution provides that: “The State shall
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.”

However, the realities of our teachers does not reflect this Constitutional
Provision. In truth, they are among the most overworked but underpaid workers in
the country. Our public school educators continue to struggle to provide a better
educational experience for their students while trying to appropriate their sparse
income for their basic necessities. It is but a sad reality that from their income, our
teachers yield from their own pockets to provide educational materials for their
students. Their commitment to their profession must not compromise their living
conditions.

As explicitly stated in Section 15 (b) of Republic Act 4670, also known as the
Magna Carta for Public School Teachers: “they [teacher's salaries] shall be such as to
insure teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families [” With
the consistent increase in the cost of living, there is a compelling need to raise the
salary grade of our public school teachers. They deserve to be granted not only with
recognition and appreciation, but also with humane and decent wage for their
prodigious contribution to our society.

Thus, this bill aims to increase the present minimum Salary Grade (SG) public
school teachers from SG 11 to SG 15. It is the responsibility of the State to provide
enabling mechanisms for its educators to efficiently fulfill their mandate as civil
servants. Also, providing a competitive salary would attract the best and brightest to
pursue this noble profession.


Itis about time to prioritize the welfare of our teachers who educate and mold
the nation’s youth. In doing so, we incentivize the teaching profession, fueling the
educators’ passion to share their knowledge with their students,

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ERIC GO YAP
REPRESENTATIVE, ACT - CIS PARTYLIST


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
1st Regular Session

House Bill No,_ 1895

oe

Introduced by Representative ERIC GO YAP
ese

AN ACT
INCREASING THE SALARY GRADE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 15 AND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Increase in the Minimum Salary Grade Level. - The
Present minimum salary grade level of public school teachers in the elementary
and secondary schools shall be upgraded from Salary Grade (SG) 11 to SG 15;
Provided, however. That the salary grade upgrading shall be differentiated in
accordance with the qualifications and length of service rendered by teachers
and shall not be prejudiced by across the board adjustments.

SECTION 2. Priority in Budget Allocation. - The National Government
shall appropriate such amount, as may be necessary to carry out the objectives
of this Act. Provided, That the salary increase of public school teachers shall take
Priority over other non-educational and non-agricultural budgetary
allocations.

SECTION 3. Budget Required. - The Department of Education (DepEd)
shall come up with a specific programmed budget needed to cover the expenses
for the upgrading in salary levels for all the corresponding teacher plantilla
Positions for a period of at least five (6) years to allow the Department of Budget


and Management (DBM) make the necessary budgetary adjustments to
facilitate the smooth implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. Inclusion in the Appropriations Act. - The amount
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the
Genera Appropriations Act for the year following the approval of this Act.

SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provision of
the Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders and
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act
shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspaper
of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,