Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 289

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the vision of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to provide programs for
the promotion and improvement of the social well-being and economic status of public school
teachers, including their living and working conditions, terms of employment and career
prospects.

Apparently, for many years after its enactment in 1966, most provisions of the Magna
Carta for Public School Teachers remain unenforced or unimplemented. Today, it is a
common knowledge that the teaching in public schools does not hold the promise of a high-
paying job. Public school educators, who comprise almost half of all government workers,
remain to be one of the lowest paid and most overworked in the country today. Their take-
home pay does not take them home. To secure a better future for their family, they take the
option of trying their luck in foreign lands leaving their families behind and the country with
insufficient qualified educators for its growing student population. The migration of educators
to find better opportunities deprives our education system with the knowledge and expertise
of skilled, competent and dedicated school educators.

To alleviate their present condition, this bill seeks to provide our public school
educators non-wage benefits in the form of special discounts on private establishments,
medicines, restaurants, fares and other business institutions. It is a due recognition for their
unselfish dedication to the profession by expanding their meager salary with further benefits.

The discount privileges under this proposed measure are just modest provisions in
order to help improve the plight of our public school educators, considering the significant role
they perform in nation building. This will eventually bring about socio-economic
transformation that is heralding teaching as a noble profession.

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

Aim/

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
House of Representatives
House Bill No. 289

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
PROVIDING FURTHER BENEFITS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN FORM OF
DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES, PROVIDING THE MECHANICS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, professionalism
and adequate remuneration and benefits of public school educators shall be a primary concern of
the State. Towards this end, the State shall give due recognition for their unselfish dedication to
the profession by supplementing their meager salary with further benefits.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, educators shalll include only duly
registered public school educators or their equivalent, ie, instructors and professors.

SECTION 3. Privileges for School Educators. — Public school educators, in addition to
their existing benefits, shall be entitled to the following privileges:

a) A fifteen percent (15%) discount from restaurants, wet markets, supermarkets and rice

dealers anywhere in the country.

b) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all purchases and admission fees from

amusement and entertainment centers, such as, but not limited to, movie theaters,
concert halls and carnivals.

©) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on economy class air transportation passenger

fees charged by airlines.

d) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all economy and special economy class or their

equivalent on sea transportation fees charged by shipping lines.
A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all land transport passenger fees charged by
bus and taxi companies, Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit, and Philippine National

e)

Railways.

f) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all medicine purchases, laboratory analysis and
other related tests, medical diagnosis, and professional fees, provided that a
prescription or order as the case may be in the name of the availing educator shall be
presented.


SECTION 4. Applicability in Relation to Exi:
aforementioned privileges shall not be availed in conjunction with other discounts that the public

ting Discount Privileges. — The

school educators may also be entitled, e.g. senior citizen discounts. Provided, however, that
under such instances, the privilege with higher discount provision shall be applied to the availing
public school educators.

SECTION 5. Tax Credi
school educators any of the discount privileges provided in this Act may claim the cost as tax
credit.

SECTION 6. Penalties. - Any person, owner of establishments, or responsible officer of
companies who fails to provide the mandated benefits of this Act shall be punished by a fine of
not exceeding Twenty Thousand Pesos or by imprisonment not exceeding twelve (12) months, or

— The establishments or companies that extend to the public

both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 7. Implementing Guidelines. - The Department of Education (DepED), the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the
Department of Health (DoH), and the Department of Finance (DOF) shall, within ninety (90) days
from the promulgation of this Act, issue the necessary guidelines to carry out the provisions of
this Act.

SECTION 8. Monitoring Committee. - There is hereby created a Monitoring Committee,
herein referred to as the Committee, which shall be under the supervision of the Department of
Education (DepEd). The Committee shall be composed of eight (8) members representing each
of the departments/agencies mentioned in Section 7 hereof. The Department of Education
(DepEd) representative shall become the Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee shall organize itself to look after the implementation of this Act, and shall
submit to both Houses of Congress a quarterly report on the general execution of granting certain
discount privileges to public school educators as provided in this Act, indicating therein the
Committee's assessment, evaluation, and recommendations.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision in this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Alll laws, rules and regulations or part or parts thereof
inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,