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

& gEcElve
RE ewan?

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'No. _560

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MONTHLY INTERNET ALLOWANCE
FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As provided in the 1987 Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1, “The State shall
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” To fulfill this
mandate even during this COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education
(DepEd) approved the blended learning program which proposes various approaches
or methods of learning, such as distance learning and online leaming.

However, it is highly unlikely that the said constitutional mandate will indeed
be met, as majority of public school teachers are unprepared and unable to adopt this
kind of method duc to lack of reliable internet connection.

During the first week of June 2020, teachers nationwide—including those in
urban centers where internet connection is supposed to be stronger—have already
struggled with various tasks requiring the use of information and communications
technology, from online enrolment of students, online in-service trainings, video
conferences and meetings, online reading of forms, up to preparation of online
classroom and instructional materials for the school opening on August 24, 2020.
With such bulk of online tasks and substantial need for digital access, teachers who
only rely mostly on mobile data cannot fulfill such duties. A reliable internet
connection is a vital component for DepEd’s alternative work schemes such as
work-from-home arrangements and distance learning.



With their measly salaries barely sufficient to provide for their personal needs
and that of their families, teachers now face the constant choices of how much they
must tighten their belts or whether they could be frugal at the expense of their
students. Neither decision is humane, just, ptable. Government must not leave
public school teachers to their own devices, especially considering that this need for
stable Internet access is for their official duties as teachers, and for them to fulfill a
core function of government—the delivery of public education.

Hence, this bill seeks to grant all public school teachers an amount of P1,500 as
a monthly Internet allowance to help them cope with the requirements of the blended
learning program, deliver the outputs of distance education which are expected of
them, and adjust to the demands in education brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the foregoing reasons, urgent approval of this bill is sought.

. ARIENE D. BROSAS Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL
GABRIELA Womens Party KABATAAN Party-List


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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 580

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS.
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MONTHLY INTERNET ALLOWANCE
FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Internet Allowance for
Public School Teachers Act of 2022.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. In order to provide quality
education and to ensure that our teachers are given the support they need in the
undertaking of their profession, the State shall provide every public school teacher an
Internet allowance to fulfill the objectives of the blended learning program. It is also
hereby declared that enabling every public school teacher to have a reliable Internet
connection is an indispensable component of the functions of the State in improving
learning instruction and the delivery of education.

SEC. 3. Internet Allowance. An Internet Allowance of 1,500 per month is hereby
granted to all public school teachers.

SEC. 4. Coverage. The Internet Allowance shall be granted to teachers as defined by
Republic Act 4670 or The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers Act.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education and the
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and


regulations for the faithful and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act
within thirty (30) days from the date of its effectivity.

Failure of the agencies to comply with the mandate under this Section will
render the responsible officials liable under the relevant administrative and criminal
laws.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. Upon effectivity of this Act, the amounts necessary for its
implementation shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DepEd.
Thereafier, the funds shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Periodic Review for Increases. The Secretary of Education is hereby
mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Internet Allowance, taking into account
the current rates of Internet service subscription plans, and if warranted, recommend
the necessary increase in the amount of the allowance.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, insofar as they are separable from the invalid
ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules, or
regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication either in the Official Gazette, or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,