Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5731

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Sherwin T. Gatchalian

EXPLANATORY NOTE
This measure seeks to increase the minimum salary of public
school teachers and non-teaching personnel in all elementary and

secondary schools.

Section 5(5), Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides:

“See, 5. (1) xxx
2x xxx XXX}

" (5)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.”

No less than the 1987 Constitution has recognized the importance
of education as it mandates the State to give priority to education in
order to hasten the achievement of social progress or national growth.
Education is an integral part of national development as it equips the
population with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to actively
participate and contribute to national progress.

Public school teachers are vital partners of the government in
ensuring that the youth receive quality education. By the nature of their


functions, teachers greatly contribute to nation-building and nurture the
future leaders of our country. They deserve the praise they get for the
significant role they play in molding the character and minds of our
youth and shaping our country. Yet, despite them being hailed as heroes,
our public school teachers still appear to be neglected because of the low
salaries they receive.

‘This proposed measure aims to increase the minimum salary of
public elementary and secondary school teachers, and also of the non-
teaching personnel in the public education sector by upgrading their
salary grade level from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 18 and Salary
Grade 1 to Salary Grade 9, respectively. Increasing the minimum salary
of our public school teachers is a good way of expressing our gratitude
and appreciation for their efforts and sacrifices and recognizing their true
value, This bill envisions restoring, teaching as a career of choice for the
best and the brightest among the youth and also hopes to remedy the
decline in the teaching profession and the brain drain which have
resulted in the loss of our young, and talented teachers who go abroad
and seek greener pastures for them to be able to better provide for their
families. This measure also recognizes the contributions of non-teaching
personnel in our public schools who also render invaluable service to
ensure that quality education is available and accessible to all.

It is hoped that through this proposed measure, our public school
teachers and non-teaching personnel will soon receive a fair and
adequate remuneration commensurate to their contributions to society
and the hardships they encounter in the performance of their duties and
functions.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

5731

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Sherwin T. Gatchalian

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
‘TEACHERS AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL IN ALL ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY UGRADING THEIR SALARY GRADE
LEVEL FROM SALARY GRADE 11 TO SALARY GRADE 18 AND
SALARY GRADE 1 TO SALARY GRADE 9, RESPECTIVELY, AND
APPROPRIATING 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 is hereby declared the
policy of the State to promote the welfare and the economic well-being of
public school teachers and non-teaching personnel in the public
education sector. Towards this end, the State shall promulgate measures
that will provide them fair and adequate remuneration commensurate to
their contributions to nation-building and that will afford them and their
families a reasonable standard of living.

SEC. 2. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all teaching and non-
teaching personnel in public elementary and secondary schools, whether
nationally or locally funded.

For purposes of this Act, a public school teacher refers to a person
engaged in:

a) Actual classroom teaching in the public education sector,
including locally-funded teachers or those hired and paid for, whether
fully or partially, by the local government unit or any local entity in
accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Department of
Education (DepEd) for the purpose;

b) Teaching in the alternative learning system of the DepEd;

¢) Teaching in the Philippine Science High School System; and


d) School-based supervisory, managerial, administrative or
technical functions in the public education sector.

Non-teaching personnel refer to officials and employees of DepEd
not included in the definition for public school teachers.

SEC. 3. Minimum Salary of Public School Teachers. ~ The
minimum salary of a public school teacher in a public elementary or
secondary school shall be adjusted from the present Salary Grade 11 to
Salary Grade 18. The salaries of those occupying higher positions shall
be adjusted accordingly.

SEC. 4. Minimum Salary of Non-Teaching Personnel. - The
minimum salary of non-teaching personnel in a public elementary or
secondary school shall be adjusted from the present Salary Grade 1 to
Salary Grade 9.The salaries of those occupying higher positions shall be
adjusted accordingly.

SEC. 5. Implementation by Tranches. - The implementation of
Sections 3 and 4 of this Act shall be implemented by tranches within a
three-year period from the approval of this Act,

Within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary
of Education shall, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission,
come up with the modified compensation schedule for the affected
teaching and non-teaching personnel and the specific programmed
budget needed to cover the expenses for upgrading the salary levels of all
the corresponding teaching and non-teaching positions over a period of
three (3) years to allow the Department of Budget and Management to
make the necessary budgetary adjustments to facilitate the smooth
implementation of this Act.

‘The salary increase under this Act shall not be prejudiced by any
across the board adjustments provided for by other laws or executive
issuances.

SEC. 6. Performance-Based Incentive. - A performance-based
incentive in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) cach year
shall be granted to all qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel in
the public education sector based on specific mechanisms and criteria
promulgated by the Deplid for the purpose.

‘The performance-based incentive mandated in this section shall be
distinct and separate from existing benefits and incentives already
provided to teaching and non-teaching personnel in the public education
sector by existing laws, regulations or issuances.


The amount of incentive granted under this section may be
increased by the President, upon recommendation by the Secretary of
Education, to account for inflation and other economic factors so that
the incentive would remain significant in motivating our public school
teachers and non-teaching personnel to reach or achieve the criteria set
by DepEd.

SEC. 7. Priority in Budget Allocation. ~ The National
Government shall appropriate such amount as may be necessary to carry
out the objectives of this Act. The salary increase of public school
teachers shall take priority over other non-educational and non-
agricultural budgetary allocations.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act for the year following the approval of this Act.

SEC. 9, Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety
(90) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall,
in coordination with the Secretary of Budget and Management and the
Civil Service Commission, issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or
provisions not affected shall remain in full force and eff

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed
or modifie rdingly.

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

Approved,