3. 
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1 :  
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
} 
Introduced bv Senator Edaardo J. Anaara 
Public school teachers are among the most underpaid workers in our 
society. 
Despite the fact that they are heralded as molders of our children’s 
futures, public school teachers receive only less than ten thousand a month each 
for their basic salary. 
The teachers are considered to be the heart of the 
educational system. Hence, the government needs to give priority to their 
interests and welfare. 
The low salaries received by our public school teachers have been a 
major disincentive for them to improve their skills in teaching and pursue further 
education and training. 
In addition, the public schools have failed to attract the 
best and the brightest students from the top colleges and universities because of 
the low salary levels, preventing our public education system from benefiting 
from the knowledge and expertise of qualified teachers. 
Studies show that most of the teachers have net take home pay of less 
than five thousand pesos because of so many deductions from their loans with 
private lending institutions. In addition to this, there are usual deductions made 
such as the Government Service Insurance Premiums, withholding taxes, 
PHILHEALTH contributions. 
Hence, the teacher brings home only a meager 
amount of salary, which in most cases is unable to meet the high cost of living 
today. 
The Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) recommended in 
1991 to upgrade the minimum salary levels of teachers from Grade 10 to 17. 
However, since this proposal was made ten years ago, there is a need to make 
this salary increase more relevant given the increase in the cost of living today. 
In this regard, there is a need to upgrade the minimum salary grade level of 
teachers from salary grade 10 to 19, which corresponds to almost six thousand 
pesos increase in their monthly basic salaries. 
With this increase in salaries, 
more qualified and competent educators will be attracted to teach in public 
schools. 
Definitely, this will greatly help motivate our teachers to strive for 
excellence in their field and improve the quality of education in the public 
schools. 
For the above-mentioned reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly urged. 


1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
't:j& 
, );jd 30 ,?(; :I h 
T 
s. No. 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Sec. 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 Grade 10 to Grade 19; Provided 
however that the salary upgrading shall be differentiated in accordance with the 
qualifications and length of service rendered by teachers and shall not be 
prejudice by across the board salary adjustments. 
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 Required. 
The Department of Education, Culture and 
Sports (DECS 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 years to allow the Department of 
Budget and Management make the necessary budgetary adjustments to facilitate 
the smooth implementation of this Act. 
Sec. 4. 
Inclusion in Appropriations Act. 
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. 
Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education, Culture 
and Sports (DECS) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of 
this Act. 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, 
including rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or 
modified accordingly. 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect in fifteen (75) days following 
publication in one (I) 
national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,