Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is a constant and pressing need to improve the status of our education sector. 
Recently, the State has undertaken aggressive steps in pursuit of an education sector 
that is at par with the rest of the world. For instance, we have adopted the K-12 program 
to ensure job-ready and internationally competent graduates. We have also synced 
our academic calendar with that of the international community's. Currently, bills 
proposing to increase the salary of our public school teachers are now pending in both 
Houses, as well as measures to set a fixed number of students per public classroom 
for easier class management and a more conducive learning environment. 
This Representation now invites us to pay attention to an equally important, but often 
neglected aspect of education—the holistic well-being of our teachers. Teachers serve 
as the second parents of our children. They do not only impart academic lessons; they 
supervise the social interactions of our children, ingrain traditional Filipino values in our 
youth, and influence their character development. 
The unfortunate truth is that teachers in our jurisdiction are often underpaid and 
overworked, potentially contributing to high levels of stress, burnout, and even 
depression. Additionally, stress has physical manifestations such as high blood 
pressure, heart disease, ulcer, stroke, migraine, inflammation, arthritis, irritable bowel 
syndrome, low immunity, skin problems, headaches, back pain, and joint problems that 
can all be attributed—either directly or indirectly—to the stress hormone cortisol. 
The Philippines has not conducted a comprehensive survey on the mental wellness of 
our teachers. The absence of localized data prevents us from effectively addressing 
this issue. Hence, this bill proposes the immediate conduct of a five-year pilot study that 
looks extensively into the well-being of our teachers. From the results of such study, 
the Department of Health (DOH) is mandated to up with innovative solutions to 
teachers' stress. These may include programs on workplace wellness, social-emotional 
learning, and stress management, among others. 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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We cannot expect unhappy, stressed, and professionally dissatisfied teachers to 
provide a responsive, caring, and conducive learning environment to our children. The 
State must undertake necessary steps to ensure that its youth are in safe hands.  
In consideration of the foregoing premises, the swift passage of this bill is humbly 
sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING TEACHER HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY REQUIRING THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO CARRY OUT A STUDY TO ADD TO THE 
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ON REDUCING TEACHER STRESS AND 
INCREASING TEACHER RETENTION AND WELL-BEING, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known and cited as the "Teachers' Health 
and Wellness Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State avows to promote the rights and 
welfare of its labor force, and to exercise sufficient powers to safeguard their dignity, 
health, and professional growth. The Constitution likewise provides that all citizens shall 
have access to quality education. In this regard, the State is compelled to ensure that 
its teachers are not only physically healthy, but also mentally sound to perform their 
tasks as educators, and to meet the rigorous demands of class management. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
a)
Complementary Health Approach. —The term "complementary health
approach" includes integrative health care, adjunctive health care, and
functional medicine.
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b) 
Secretary. — The term refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health 
(DOH); and 
c) 
Teachers. — The term refers to those publicly or privately employed to teach at 
least one subject in primary, secondary, tertiary, post-graduate or vocational 
school. 
 
SECTION 4. Mandate of the Law. — The State seeks to understand the current 
mental condition of our teachers and come up with measures to ensure that they are 
in optimal physical and mental health to provide quality education to our youth. The 
State also endeavors to maintain a classroom environment that is safe and most 
conducive to students' learning and the teachers' professional growth. 
In this regard, the Department of Health (DOH) shall conduct a five-year pilot 
study that will add to the scientific knowledge on reducing teacher stress, teacher 
turnover rate, and improving their overall well-being. The study must include a national 
survey by the DOH to determine the stress level of teachers, and their common 
stressors. 
The Teacher Health and Wellness Act also supports: 
1)  
Mentoring and induction programs during the school year and teacher 
preservice that improve teacher well-being; 
2) 
Organizational interventions such as principal training programs that 
reduce 
stress 
through 
supervisor/peer 
support 
and 
increasing 
opportunities for teachers to participate in professional learning 
communities, teacher leadership positions and decision-making regarding 
school interventions and management; 
3) 
Teacher residency programs that provide mental health and psychological 
support; 
4) 
Complementary health approaches, such as mindfulness meditation, that 
improve teacher performance; 
5) 
School reorganization that creates the conditions to facilitate the 
transmission and sharing of knowledge among teachers; and 
6) 
Other innovative evidence-based approaches that reduce stress and 
increase well-being in the teaching profession, which may include 
increased compensation. 


SECTION 5. Appropriations. — Ten million pesos (PhP 10,000,000.00) is hereby 
allotted from the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) every year for the first 
five (5) years of its implementation. 
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or portions not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,