Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE sitt No, 2034

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Rep. CARLOS ISAGANIT. ZARATE,
Rep. FERDINAND GAITE and Rep. FUFEMIA C, CULLAMAT,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,

and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. SARAH JANE I. ELAGO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MONTHLY INTERNET ALLOWANCE FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As provided in the 1987 Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1, “The State shall protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all.” Allegedly to fulfill this mandate even during
this COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) approved the blended
learning program which proposes various approaches or methods of learning, such as
distance learning and online learning.

However, it is highly unlikely that the said constitutional mandate will indeed be met,
as majority of public school teachers are unprepared and unable to adopt this kind of method
due to lack of reliable internet connection.

During the first week of June 2020, teachers nationwide—including those in urban
centers where Internet connection is supposed to be stronger—have already struggled with
various tasks requiring the use of information and communications technology, from online
enrolment of students, online in-service trainings, video conferences and meetings, online
reading of forms, up to preparation of online classroom and instructional materials for the
school opening on August 24, 2020. With such bulk of online tasks and substantial need for
digital access, teachers who only rely mostly on mobile data cannot fulfill such duties. A
reliable internet connection is a vital component for DepEd’s alternative work schemes such
as work-from-home arrangements and distance learning.



measly salaries barely sufficient to provide for their personal needs and
that of their families, teachers now face the constant choices of how much they must tighten
their belts or whether they could be frugal at the expense of their students. Neither decision
is humane, just, or acceptable. Government must not leave public school teachers to their
own devices, especially considering that this need for stable internet access is for their official
duties as teachers, and for them to fulfill a core function of government—the delivery of
public education.

Hence, this bill seeks to grant all public school teachers an amount of P1,500 as a
monthly Internet allowance to help them cope with the requirements of the blended learning
program, deliver the outputs of distance education which are expected of them, and adjust,
to the demands in education brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the foregoing reasons, urgent approval of this bill is sought.

Rep. FRANGE L. CASTRO
ACT Teachers Party-List

Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE. Rep. FERDINAND GAITE
BAYAN MUNA Party-List BAYAN MUNA Party-List
Rep. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT Rep. YALEI #6 BROSAS

BAYAN MUNA Party-List GABRIELA Women’s Party

iE I. ELAGO
Party-List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7034

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
Rep, FERDINAND GAITE and Rep. FUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT,

GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. SARAH JANE |. ELAGO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MONTHLY INTERNET ALLOWANCE FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Internet Allowance for Public School
Teachers Act of 2020.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the
right of aii citizens to quality education ai al levels and shall iake appropriate steps lo make
such education accessible to all. In order to provide quality education and to ensure that our
teachers are given the support they need in the undertaking of their profession, the State
shall provide every public school teacher an Internet allowance to fulfill the objectives of the
blended learning program. Itis also hereby declared that enabling every public school teacher
to have 2 reliable Internet connection is an indispensable component of the functions of the
State in improving learning instruction and the delivery of education

SECTION 3. Internet Allowance. An Internet Allowance of P1,500 per month is hereby
granted to all public school teachers.

SECTION 4, Coverage. This Act shall cover all public school teachers who are engaged in the
blended learning program both in elementary and secondary public schools.


SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education and the
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the faithful and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act within
thirty (30) days from the date of its effectivity.

Failure of the agencies to comply with the mandate under this Section will render the
responsible officials liable under the relevant administrative and criminal laws.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. Upon effectivity of this Act, the amounts necessary for its
implementation shall be charged against the current appropriations of th
DepEd. Thereafter, the funds shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 7. Periodic Review for Increases. The Secretary of Education is hereby mandated
to conduct a periodic review of the Internet Allowance, taking into account the current rates
of Internet service subscription plans, and if warranted, recommend the necessary increase
in the amount of the allowance.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones,
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION S. Repealing Ciause. Any provision of iaws, orders, agreements, rules, or reguiations
contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication either in the Official Gazette, or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,