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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit. no. 4616

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill aims to upgrade the minimum salary level of public school teachers in
the elementary and secondary schools from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15 in
order to motivate and maintain highly qualified teachers in the country.

As stated in Article XIV, Section 5.5 of the Philippine Constitution, 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.” In addition, R.A.
No, 4670 otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers mandate
the following criteria for salaries of public school teachers

1) “They shall compare favorably with those paid in other occupations
requiring equivalent or similar qualifications, trainings and abilities"
(Sec. 15a)

2) “They shall be such as to insure teachers a reasonable standard of life
for themselves and their families" (Sec. 15b)

The current pay scheme of government fails to fulfil these criteria. Salaries of
public school teachers do not compare favorably with other occupations in
government. A duly licensed professional teacher occupying the entry-level position
of Teacher |, with a monthly salary of P18,549 (Salary Grade 11, Step 1), earns
substantially less than a high school graduate who enters the Philippine Military
Academy as a cadet, with a monthly salary of P21,709 per month. Neither does
teachers’ pay compare favorably with those employed as call center agents in the
private sector.

10 JUN 2014

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Public school teachers’ salaries are currently unable to “insure a reasonable
standard of life for themselves and their families.” According to the Alliance of
Concemed Teachers, the family living wage in the National Capital Region,
estimated at P957 per day or more than P21,054 per month, is in contrast with the
P18,549 monthly salary of a Teacher I. in order to cope with this “living salary gap,”
teachers resort to borrowing and are heavily indebted to government financial
institutions such as the GSIS, private lending institutions, or loan sharks.

This situation has obviously pushed some of our best teachers out of the
country, to seek better pay and working conditions overseas. There is a huge gap in
salary levels of teachers in the country compared with those abroad. Sadly, due to
the low pay, many of our teachers migrate to work not as teachers but as domestic
helpers, nannies, or caregivers.

The effort of the government to upgrade the educational system cannot
succeed for as long as teachers are taken for granted. Teachers in dire conditions
can never be expected to turn in good quality students and future leaders of our
land

For the above-cited reasons, immediate approval of this bill is eamestly
urged

he

MARK A. VILLAR


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bio, _4616

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

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

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as "The Public School
Teachers’ Salary Upgrading Act.”

SEC. 2. Recognition of Policy. The Policy of the State “to ensure that
education receives the highest priority in governance, and 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” is hereby reiterated.

SEC. 3. Raising of 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 Salary Grade 11 to Salary 15. Salary grade levels of those
occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

SEC. 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover all public school teachers in the
elementary and secondary level, whether nationally or locally funded, including those
in technical and vocational schools and state universities and colleges.


SEC. 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 public school teachers shall take priority over non-
educational and non-agricultural budgetary allocations.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 7. Appropriation. 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.

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

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

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

completion of publication in the Official Gazette or in @ newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,