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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3698.

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public school teachers play a very crucial role in shaping the future of the youth
and in building the nation as a whole. As the prime instruments in honing young minds,
they are considered to be the heart of the educational system.

However, public school teachers receive a basic salary that is not commensurate
to the value of their roles in Philippine society and the amount of work they do. It is also
inadequate to help them sustain their needs and that of their families, especially
considering the rising cost of living. In some instances, teachers are compelled to find
other livelihood options to supplement their income, which is not enough to buy food,
send their children to school, and pay the monthly rental and utility bills.

Further, the salary that public school teachers currently receive poses a major
hindrance in attracting the brightest graduates of the best colleges and universities, to
teach in our public schools. Many of them seek better opportunities abroad. Those who
are currently teaching also lack the motivation to pursue further education and improve
their skills.

This bill seeks to increase the minimum salary of public school teachers from
Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15. We are hopeful that this will address the migration
of our teachers to seek better opportunities abroad and provide the teachers the right
motivation and compensation to better educate our children, and give them the
opportunities to learn and have the right disposition to be successful in the future.

Increasing the salary of teachers is consistent with the provisions of the 1987
Constitution, which states in Article XIV Section 5 (5): “The State shall assign the
highest budgetary priority to the 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”. It will also complement efforts. to
institute ambitious and wide-ranging education reforms under the K to 12 program.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
KABAYAN Partylist

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 15

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

SECTION 1. Increase in the Minimum Salary of Teachers. — The minimum salary of
public school teachers in the elementary and secondary levels shall be increased to
Salary Grade 15. Provided, that the salary upgrading shall be differentiated in
accordance with the qualifications and length of service rendered by the teachers and
shall not be prejudiced by across the board adjustments.

Within six (6) months from the approval of this Act, the Department of Education
(DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall
rationalize the positions of teaching personnel to ensure that the minimum entry level is
Salary Grade 15. The positions of non-teaching personnel may also be adjusted to the
extent of preventing any disparity in rank and seniority with that of the teaching
personnel

SEC. 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.

SEC. 3. Budget Requirement. - The 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 (5) years to
allow the DBM to make necessary budgetary adjustments to facilitate the smooth
implementation of this Act.

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

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd and the DBM shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

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SEC. 6. Separability clause. - The provisions of this Act are hereby declared
separable, and in the event one or more of such provisions or part thereof are declared
unconstitutional, such declaration of unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity of the
other provisions thereof.

SEC. 7. Repealing clause. — All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations and/or administrative regulations which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed
accordingly

SEC. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

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