Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2180

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Presidential Proclamation No. 55 mandates the celebration of National
Volunteer Month in December of every year. To supplement this initiative,
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also ratified Republic Act 9418 on April
10, 2007 — also known as the "Volunteer Act of 2007” — which institutionalized
volunteerism as one of the strategies for national development.

Volunteers have played, and will continue to play, an important and
valuable role in education. They are the volunteer educators who freely share
their knowledge, skills and talents as they provide assistance in the education of
students. A volunteer educator may be the pivotal influence that sets the student
on a course for a better future. A volunteer educator who reads to a young child
may be the spark that ignites a love of reading. A volunteer educator who
teaches skills, information and opportunities, can expand the classroom walls
and prepares the learners for a world of possibilities. More significantly, the
presence of volunteer educators who portray positive adult role models, sends an
important message to learners -~- the value of caring for others --- that in turn,
can affect the learners’ attitudes toward education as well as their academic
outcomes.

Teaching may be the noblest profession; but for volunteer educators
across the country, it has failed to provide an adequate income to support their
basic personal needs and live a life of dignity worthy of emulation. They can be
found rendering certain functions, just like the works of regular educators, but
are not similarly compensated as the latter. Whether in formal or Alternative
Learning (ALS) Centers, the contribution of these volunteer educators in the
attainment of our educational objectives cannot be underestimated. Their
presence appease those in dire need of a regular mentor. Today, with our
country’s Education for All (EFA) drive, they comprised a strong support system
in delivering the educational initiatives in the institutions or areas where they are
needed. Since they are not under the plantilla of the Department of Education or
by a particular local government unit (LGU), a volunteer educator normally
receives only a meager allowance of approximately one thousand five hundred
pesos (1,500.00 Php) per month for their services, a chilling injustice to a noble
deed, in fact, a far fetch to complement “equal pay for equal work”, which could
hardly provide for the family needs considering the present high cost of living. It
indeed corresponds to an undue recognition of their nobility who, despite of such
meager amount, still persist in serving the community.

This bill seeks to create plantilla positions in the Department of Education for
volunteer educators with at least five (5) years continuous service in the Philippine
public school system.


For the selfless service rendered by a volunteer educator, particularly one
who is qualified and possesses the appropriate eligibility and has continuously
served as volunteer educator for at least five (5) years, it is only proper that he is
given a plantilla teaching position to secure adequate source of livelihood.

The creation of plantilla positions in the Department of Education for these
qualified volunteer educators will not only give them adequate income, but will
also accord them the dignity they truly deserve as practitioners of the noblest
profession, thereby strengthening the spirit of volunteerism as inherent goodness
of the Filipino race.

In view of the above-mentioned considerations, approval of this bill is

earnestly recommended.
Bre!

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )
House of Representatives

House Bill No.__2180

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
CREATING PLANTILLA POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FOR VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS WITH AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF
CONTINUOUS SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Department of Education is hereby mandated to create
plantilla teaching positions for volunteer educators with at least five (5) years of
continuous service in the public school system in the Philippines: Provided, That
to be appointed in the plantilla position created pursuant in this Act, the volunteer
educator must conform with RA 7836, otherwise known as the
Professionalization of Teaching Act, meet the criteria for recruitment and hiring of
teachers set forth by the Department of Education and possess the appropriate
civil service eligibility requirements.

SECTION 2. The Department of Education in coordination with the Civil
Service Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act
within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 3. The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations for the Department of
Education under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

‘Approved,