-EPRE.
Le “ON
fe RECE| veb

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City S DATE:,AUG_0 5 um
* tp
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS TIMEs _f?¥ pes

Second Regular Session
House Bill No,_7285

Introduced by Hon. Maria Fe R. Abunda
Representative, Lone District, Eastern Samar

AN ACT GRANTING UTILITY ALLOWANCE FOR TEACHERS DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Merely a few weeks into the lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,
‘one question quickly made rounds: paano na ang pag-aaral? As it became apparent that
physical classes were not to be seen for a while, students, parents, and teachers alike
‘expressed concerns over alternative arrangements for school and the viability thereof.

Along with online classes, one of the more brought up solutions is that of having
teachers utitlize cyber means to create and share their materials. Either of the said
solutions are inarguably demanding on internet resources. However, there have been
countless reports of teachers constrained by their household budgets from acquiring
internet services. The current health situation in the country has proven to mean costlier
everyday expenses: the additional internet costs are simply not an option for many
households. Thus, in an effort to minimize the digital divide, this bill seeks to address
this problem to whatever extent possible.

The Teachers’ Utility Allowance law, as proposed herein, will grant to our
honored teachers an extra means to facilitate their teaching. This bill seeks to broaden the
horizon for teachers, and to further welcome their creative input in solving these modern
challenges we face.

Incidentally, the passage of this bill will not only provide teachers with additional
repositories for their materials but would also better facilitate communication between
teachers and students, and between teachers and other teachers.


This legislation, should it become law, will work hand-in-hand with the several
various measures forwarded by the different sectors of society so that when we are asked
“paano na ang pag-aaral?”, we will be prepared with a concrete and positive answer.

(ARJA FE R. ABUNDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7285

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Maria Fe R. Abunda
Representative, Lone District, Eastern Samar

AN ACT GRANTING UTILITY ALLOWANCE FOR TEACHERS DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
Section 1. This Act shall be known as the Teachers’ Utility Allowance Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - In line with the standing policy of the State to
protect and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all, the State shall guarantee that
it shall continuously enable and assist teachers in conducting their respective classes at
any given time especially during a pandemic.

Section 3. Objective. - The general objective is to provide teachers in public
schools with the necessary funds to procure stable internet connection in order to conduct
their classes which is set to be online due the Covid-19 pandemic limiting schools to
online learning.

The specific objectives are:

a. To augment the teaching force in areas affected by Covid-19 which have shifted
classes from the traditional face-to-face to online classes;

b. To encourage teachers to effectively hold classes without the additional burden of
procuring from their personal funds to use as an expense for stable internet
connection;


c. Toensure that students will be able to effectively learn from their teachers through
the alternative modes of online learning;

d. To provide monthly internet allowance for public school teachers in addition to
their salary and other allowance

Section 4. Appropriations. - The Secretary of the Department of Education
(DepEd) shall immediately include in the DepEd program the implementation of this Act,
the funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd District
Supervisor, in coordination with the Local Government Unit, shall promulgate and issue
the guideline and implement rules and regulations for the proper implementation and
execution of this Act within sixty (60) days after the effectivity thereof.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved