Republic of the Philippines REC
House of Representatives | ECCIVED
Quezon City
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS me
First Regular Session ee ae
2491 PATTON UNIT
House BillNo, 491 | ews wo avex sevice

Introduced by Representative Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is provided in the 1987 Constitution that the State is mandated to assign the
highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain
its rightful share of the best available talents by means of adequate remuneration and
other means of job satisfaction and fulfilment.”

Also, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Republic Act No. 4670)
protects the rights of public educators to a decent salary by ensuring that
compensation levels compare favourably to those paid in other occupations requiring
equivalent qualifications and that they ensure reasonable standard of life for
themselves and their families.

At present, entry-level position for a licensed teacher receives a salary
amounting to P18,549.00 per month based on a salary grade (SG) of 11. The present
day scheme of public school teachers is nowhere near the pay scheme of other
occupations in government, and even the private sector, where qualifications and
employment requirements are less stringent than licensed teachers.

Meanwhile, the non-teaching personnel who provides support to teachers are
paid 9,000.00 per month, which is lower than the minimum wage in the National
Capital Region (NCR).

Through all these financial struggles, many of our graduates, including our
licensed teachers, try their luck as overseas workers but not as educators; instead,
they work as domestic helpers, nannies, and caregivers. Four years of burning the
midnight oil and several months spent to review for the Licensure Examination for
Teachers (LET) only to be rewarded by either mismatched job option or a teaching job
that offers just above a minimum wage earner's salary.

Also to augment their meagre income, some teachers have resorted to selling
wares, beauty products or processed food to fellow teachers and students. Several of
them have also turned to loan sharks and lending companies, who then take
advantage of their situation. As a result, their focus veers away from more important
tasks at hand, which is to educate our children.

Considering their pivotal role in nation development, it is but time that we
address the plight of our public school teachers and non-teaching personnel. It is the
objective of this bill to restore the intrinsic value equal to the worth of the world's most

EPRESENTATIVES


noble profession. This bill ultimately aims to provide a much improved quality of living

for teaching and non-teaching staff in public elementary and secondary schools by
increasing its entry-level pay

The country can only move forward in the global knowledge economy if
government ensures that it invests enough on improving its human capital

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

ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING
1* District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
. 2491
House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estreilita B. Suansing

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MONTHLY SALARIES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO
TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P25,000.00) AND NON-TEACHING
PERSONNEL TO FIFTEEN THOUSAND PESOS (15,000.00)

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to ensure that education is highest priority in governance, and that teaching will
attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents by means of adequate
remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfilment. In the formulation of
decisions with regard to education reforms, the State shall likewise hold paramount
the protection and promotion of the right of citizens to quality education at all levels
and the rights of education workers to humane conditions of work and a living wage.

SECTION 2. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all teaching and non-teaching
personnel in all public schools in the elementary and secondary levels, whether
nationally or locally funded, including those in technical and vocational schools and
state universities and colleges.

SECTION 3. Raising of the Minimum Salaries of Public School Teachers.
— The present minimum salaries of public school teachers in the elementary and
secondary schools shall be raised from eighteen thousand five hundred forty nine
pesos (P18,549.00) to twenty five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) a month. The salaries
of those occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly

SECTION 4. Raising of the Minimum Salaries of Non-Teaching Personnel.
— The present minimum salaries of non-teaching personnel in the elementary and
secondary schools shall be raised from nine thousand pesos (9,000.00) to fifteen
thousand pesos (P15,000.00) a month. The salaries of those occupying higher
positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

SECTION 5. Priority in Budget Allocation. — The government shall
appropriate such amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act:
Provided, That the salary increase of teaching and non-teaching personnel in public


schools shall take priority over non-educational and non-agricultural budgetary
allocations.

SECTION 6. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education and the
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The initial funding required for the
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch
of the government and other possible sources that may be determined by the Office
of the President, and subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act for the year following the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions
of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,