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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

7112

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Guidance and counseling play a pivotal role in fostering the mental health, academic
performance, and holistic development of students at all levels. Through expert support,
elementary and high school pupils can navigate the complex challenges of academic,
personal, and social development. Access to these resources enhances scholarly achievement,
social-emotional development, and continued school enrollment. Numerous studies have
revealed associations between access to counseling and improved learning outcomes,
attendance, and disciplinary rates among K-12 students.

The Philippine public school system faces numerous challenges, including
overburdened teachers and crowded classrooms. These factors often lead to students feeling
overwhelmed and lacking personalized direction. Guidance counselors have a decisive
influence in addressing these hurdles by offering support and guidance to students as they
navigate their academic and career goals.

Republic Act No, 9258 or the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004 has led the way
in recognizing the critical role of guidance and counselors in nation-building. It declares as
State policy, the “improvement, advancement, and protection of the guidance and counseling
services profession by undertaking and instituting measures that will result in professional,
ethical, relevant, efficient, and effective guidance and counseling services for the
development and enrichment of individuals and group lives.” Furthermore, Republic Act No.
11206 or the Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling Act, which was passed in
2019, sought “to institutionalize a career guidance and counseling program for students in all

* Savitz-Romer, Mandy, & Nicola, Tara P. (2022) Building High-Quality School Counseling Programs To
Ensure Student Success, Harvard Graduate School of Education, available at
https:/annenberg, brown.edu/sites/default/files/EdResearch_for Recovery Brief_21 pdf (last accessed February
6, 2023).

? Republic Act No. 9258 (2004), Art. I, Sec. 2.


public and private secondary schools nationwide in order to provide them proper direction in
pursuing subsequent tertiary education.”

However, these goals have not been fully realized as the Department of Education
(DepEd) reports a shortage of guidance counselors within the public school system. First,
there are only roughly 2,000 guidance counselors for the 28 million students in the country.
This translates to a ratio of one guidance counselor for every 14,000 students. For reference,
the ideal ratio globally is 1:250.°

Second, data by the DepEd’s Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational
Development reveals that only 19% of the 5,300 authorized positions for registered guidance
counselors have been filled. This situation is due to the low compensation offered (Salary
Grade 11) for the position, despite the high qualifications required of these
professionals—including a master’s degree. The salary grade alone makes guidance
counselors among the lowest-paid professionals in the public educational system.

This proposed measure aims to address the shortage of guidance counselors and
guidance-related personnel in the public school system by mandating sufficient plantilla
positions in the Department of Education. Further, the measure seeks to improve the salaries
of these positions to attract and retain qualified professionals in this field.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is sought.

* Republic Act No. 11206 (2019), Sec. 3(@).

* Cristina Chi, Lack of guidance counselors hampers prevention of student suicides, Philstar.com, February 1,
2023, available ar
Itps://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/01/2241784 /lack-guidance-counselors-hampers-prevention-student-
suicides (last accessed February 6, 2023),

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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No._7412

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu

AN ACT
CREATING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE PLANTILLA.
POSITIONS OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
AND ADDITIONAL PLANTILLA POSITIONS OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS FOR
HIGH SCHOOL, INCREASING THE SALARIES OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS.
AND GUIDANCE-RELATED POSITIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS,
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Creation of Plantilla Positions. — The Department of Education, in
consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, shall ensure that there is a
sufficient number of plantilla positions for guidance counselors in every public elementary
and high schools.

For purposes of this Act, the Department of Education shall endeavor to meet the
recommended ratios of one guidance counselor for every 200 students in the public
elementary and high schools.

SEC. 2. Increase in Salary Grades of Guidance Counselors, Guidance Services
Associates, and Guidance Services Specialists. ~ The present minimum salary grade levels
of guidance coordinators, guidance counselors, guidance services associates and guidance
services specialists shall be increased in the following manner:

Current Position Classification Current Salary Grade | Proposed Salary Grade

Guidance Counselor I u 16

Guidance Counselor II 12 17

Guidance Counselor III 13 18



Guidance Coordinator I 14 19
Guidance Coordinator II 15 20
Guidance Coordinator III 16 21
Guidance Services Associate I 12 17
Guidance Services Associate II 14 19
Guidance Services Specialists I 16 20
Guidance Services Specialists II 18 21
Guidance Services Specialists III 20 22
Guidance Services Specialists IV 22 23

SEC. 3. Appropriations. — The amounts necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the savings of the Department of Education. Thereafter, the
funds shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of
this Act shall not be affected thereby...

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6, Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,