Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__13°78

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1 of Republic Act 4670 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for
Public School Teachers declared as the policy of the State “fo promote and
improve the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and
working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects in order that
they may compare favorably with existing opportunities in other walks of life,
attract and retain in the teaching profession more people with the proper
qualifications, it being recognized that advance in education depends on the
qualifications and ability of the teaching staff and that education is an essential
factor in the economic growth of the nation as a productive investment of vital
importance.”

In 1987, the public school teachers were embraced anew, though referring
to teachers in general, by a constitutional guarantee, as Section 5 (5), Article XIV
(Education) of the 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that: “The State shall
assign the highest budgetary priority to 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.”

Yet today, our public school educators and education personnel languish
in a situation ironic of what they deserve to have as the heralded molders of our
youth. The public school educators and education personnel, comprising almost
half of all government workers, remain to be one of the lowest paid and most
‘overworked in the country today.

Even with the implementation of Salary Standardization Law 3 where the
upgraded salary schedule of government employees ought to take effect last July
1, 2009, the compensation package for educators and education personnel is still
not adequate for them to cope with the rapidly rising cost of living.

The low salaries given to our public school educators have been a major
disincentive in attracting the best and the brightest students in taking courses
that lead to teaching careers. This in turn prevents our education system from
producing quality educators who would train future generatioris of nation builders.
It is for the same reason also that the country is losing many of its qualified
teaching personnel to more lucrative positions in commerce and industry. For the
past years, thousands have migrated abroad for better employment opportunities
as well. It is a sad commentary of our times that compensation and low morale
have forced them to work even as domestic helpers in other countries, which can
Provide them with higher salaries and benefits to feed their families.


But while the public school educators and education personnel appear to
be “cash-starved” other government workers enjoy plentiful allowances and perks
on top of their hefty pay. In particular, the salaries of public school educators and
education personnel are lower than their counterparts in the military and police,
many of whom do not possess the college degree, qualifications and eligibilities
required of them. To illustrate it, Section 11 of Republic Act 6758 or the Salary
Standardization Law 1, provides exemptions from the coverage of the law to the
uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated
National Police as their base pays are prescribed in the salary schedule provided
under R.A. No. 6638 or the “DND-AFP Base Pay Law of 1987”, and R.A. No.
6648 or the “INP Compensation Structure Act of 1987". Moreover, while RA 6758
has abolished all the existing allowances previously enjoyed by most government
employees extending to them though longevity pay in the form of step
increments, the law did not only exempt all allowances and fringe benefits of said
uniformed personnel from integration with their base pay but also adopted an
‘over-and-above longevity pay based on ten (10) percent of their monthly basic
pay for every five (5) years of service.

While we salute our fellows in uniform as protectors of the State, thus
giving them due recognition as accorded to them by the Salary Standardization
Law, the role of public school educators and education personnel in national
development should never be underestimated, and thus should be extended
them the same recognition and privilege.

Public schools cater to the bulk of Filipino students whose aspiration of
getting at least a basic education has been clinging on the government's support
for its realization. Unquestionably, public school educators and education
personnel are the indispensable instruments of the government in the delivery of
such educational initiatives. While it is indisputable that the nature of an
educator's work requires such time and preparations that exact a heavy toll on
their physical and mental being, this has become even more demanding and
heavier on the part of public school educators as they are increasingly made to
undertake activities beyond their normal teaching loads.

This proposed bill provides for the granting of exemption to eligible public
school educators and education personnel from the Salary Standardization Law
calling for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive and
competitive salary structure, independent from the provisions of the Salary
Standardization Law. Such salary structure for public school educators and
education personnel must be responsive and effective in cushioning their fixed
income from the withheld taxes and other deductions and upgrading their salary
levels to a scale that will allow them to cope with the rising costs of living.

The educator is the conserver and conveyor of learning. He/she is nothing
less than a person of wisdom tasked with passing on the virtues, skills and
competence to the next generation. It is high time that the system restores the
educator to the pedestal of dignity he/she rightfully deserves. It is submitted that
this initiative of providing a separate compensation structure for public school
educators and education personnel would cause a heavy load on our national
budget, but if it ensures an improved and invigorated educational system, then it
is an investment we should not hesitate to bear.

Hence, for the foregoing reasons, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Gin/

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

House of Representatives

1378

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
GRANTING EXEMPTION TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND
EDUCATION PERSONNEL FROM THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC
ACT 6758, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SALARY
STANDARDIZATION LAW AND AUTHORIZING
THE APPROPRIATIONS OF
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to
give highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that the teaching
profession will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents
through the adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and
fulfillment. Pursuant to this policy, this Act provides for the granting of exemption
to eligible public school educators and education personnel from the Salary
Standardization Law with the end view, of enabling the Department of Education
to conceptualize a salary structure for public school educators and education
personnel that will be responsive and effective in cushioning their fixed income
from the withheld taxes and other deductions and upgrading their salary grades
to the levels that will allow them to cope with the rising costs of living.

SECTION 2. Eligi

lity. — All educators with proper employment
documents in the government service, with a Bachelor's Degree in Education
and passed the Professional Board Examinations for Teachers and all education
personnel with permanent status are considered eligible to be covered by this

Act.


SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department
of Education in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management,
the Civil Service Commission and representatives from public national
education organizations shall study, analyze, review, revise, adjust, fix and
implement a comprehensive and competitive upgrading of salary structure for
school educators and education personnel employed in government service,
independent from the provisions of the Salary Standardization Law. Provided,
that the salary upgrading shall be differentiated in accordance with the educators’
and education personnel's qualifications, skills, length of service and other logical
bases of segregation. Provided, further, that promotions on the basis of merit and
performance evaluation results shall be considered and treated as separate and
distinct from the upgrade in salary structure provided for under this Act. Provided,
further, that this salary upgrade should be proportionate with the salary scale of
employees in government-owned and controlled corporations and that, the
necessary implementing guidelines of this Act shall be issued by the Department
of Education, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management
and the Commission on Audit within ninety (90) days from the approval thereof.

SECTION 4. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the Department of
Education's budget for the year following the approval of this Act. Thereafter,
such funds as may be needed for its continuous implementation shall be included
in the General Appropriations Act. Income from income generating assets and
resources of government-owned and controlled corporations may be utilized for
this purpose.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If for any reason a provision, portion
or sections of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, the remainder shall not

be affected thereby.


SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, rules and regulations or any part thereof inconsistent with the

provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately

after its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,