Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Zuczon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.6224

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF A TEACHING SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public school teachers are the unsung heroes of this nation. Much is owed to
them who tirelessly educate millions of Filipinos despite the perennial problems of
our education sector. For instance, there are 21 million public school students from
kindergarten to high school, and barely 800,000 public school teachers. These
figures translate to a whopping 1:80 teacher to student ratio in some of the most
congested public schools in the country’. The Department of Education (DepEd)
recognizes an ideal ratio of one teacher per 30 students only. However, on top of the
lack of teachers, is the substantial insufficiency of classrooms in most public schools
as well.

In 2004, DepEd introduced the double-shift policy to address the
aforementioned issues, and consequently achieved a 1:55 improved teacher to
student ratio®. Unfortunately, as a result of such policy, some public school teachers
now cover up to two to three shifts per day with classes starting as early as 6AM and
ending late in the afternoon. The daily work of teachers is not limited to the hours
spent inside classrooms. In fact, much time and money are also spent preparing
lesson plans, creating lesson materials like visual aids, designing and checking

* hutp:/Avww. gmanetwork com/news/news/nation/613262/students-troop-to-schools-for-first-day-of-school-
year-amid-rains-jeepney-strike/story/
2 http://www. deped gov. ph/orders/do-62-s-2004


homework and exams, and ensuring the safety of students inside school premises
even after class hours

For all the services and work hours rendered by a Teacher |, he or she takes
home a standard monthly net income of 16,000 only? under the Salary
Standardization Law (SSL). Additionally, teachers are provided an annual P 1,500
“chalk” allowance or 7 a day for school supplies. This amount is obviously not
enough for all the requirements of their workload and the number of their students.
Hence, many teachers are forced to buy their classroom supplies using their own
money, further burdening their monthly salaries and straining finances. Since 2012,
this amount has been subjected to various adjustments and even threats of
dissolution

This bill seeks to, once and for all, institutionalize a yearly teaching supplies
allowance for teachers in the amount of P 3,000 on top of their salaries. A handful of
House bills had already been previously filed to address the inadequacy of the
current amount but not one of such bills was passed, and Filipino public teachers
continue to bear this additional encumbrance.

The importance of this bill cannot be overemphasized. Twenty-one million
young Filipino minds are educated and shaped by our public school teachers. It is
hereby the duty of the State to ensure that their teaching resources are sufficient,
and working conditions optimal. In view of the foregoing, we eamestly request the
doubling of the “chalk” allowance of public school teachers through the passage of
this bill.

Luis IUND “1 \Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

Lisww (61 149-how-much- chool- -take-home-pay


Republic of the Philitpines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Zaczon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6224

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF A TEACHING SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE FOR
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. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Teaching Supplies Allowance
Act of 2017.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote and improve the economic status of teachers and assist them in providing
quality education to their students.

SECTION 3. Teaching Supplies Allowance. — A Teaching Supplies Allowance for the
purchase of chalks, erases, forms and other classroom supplies and materials in the
amount of P 3,000.00 per teacher per school is hereby authorized.

SECTION 4. Coverage. — The grant of cash allowance authorized in this Act shall be
limited to teachers who are engaged in actual classroom teaching in public basic
education.

SECTION 5. Funding. — An amount of Three Thousand Pesos (P 3,000.00) shall be
annually appropriated in the General Appropriations Act for the grant of the Teaching
Supplies Allowance: Provided, That in the first year of effectivity of this Act, the
amount of One Thousand Pesos (P 1,000.00) shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the DepEd for the purpose, while, the amount of Two Thousand
Pesos (P 2,000.00) shall be sourced from the fifty (50%) percent share of the
Government in aggregate gross eamings of the Philippine Gaming Corporations
(PAGCOR) after deducting the five (5%) percent Franchise Tax

SECTION 6. Periodic Review for Increases. - The Secretary of Education is hereby
mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance, taking
into account the current prices of classroom supplies, and, if warranted, recommend
the necessary increase in the amount of the allowance.


SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — Al laws, decrees, resolutions, orders or
ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,