Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

it HOUSEBILLNO. __5787

Introduced by Representative Maria Evita R. Arago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public school teachers are indispensable instruments and one of the backbones in
the formation of our youth and nation building. Article XIV of the Constitution provides
that the State shall assign 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 fulfilment. The salaries of public
school teachers, as provided for in Section 15 of RA 4670, otherwise known as the
Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, should compare favourably with those paid in
other occupations requiring equivalent or similar training and abilities and that it will
afford teachers a reasonable standard of life themselves and their families.

‘The present compensation of an entry level teacher ‘as Teacher I is Salary Grade
10,with a corresponding compensation of P15,948. This amount is insufficient and is
not competitive with those who attained similar training and abilities. It is also hardly
sufficient to afford teachers the standard of life commensurate of the skills and stature.
As a result of the low salaries of our teachers, a number of them have opted to work
abroad as teachers or even in other fields in order to make a decent living for themselves
and families. .

This bill seeks to increase the minimum salary grade level of public school
teacher in order to motivate and retain our highly qualified teachers to continue with
their noble profession in our country. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage
of this bill is sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bil No.2 8?

Introduced by Representative Maria Evita R. Arago

AN ACT UPGRADING THE MINIMUM SALARY GRADE OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SALARY GRADE 10 TO 15,

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

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Public School
Teachers’ Salary Upgrading Act”.

Section 2. Reiteration of Policy. The policy of the State “to ensure that
education receives the highest priority in governance, and 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’ is hereby reiterated.

Section 3. Raising of the Minimum Salary Grade Level. ‘The present
minimum salary grade level of public school teachers in the elementary and secondary
schools shall be upgraded from Salary Grade 10 to Salary Grade 15. Salary grade levels
of those occupying higher positions shall be adjusted accordingly.

Section 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover all: public school teachers in the
elementary and secondary level, whether nationally or locally funded, inoluding those in
technical and vocational schools and state universities and colleges.

Section 5. Priority in Budget Allocation. — The government shall
appropriate such amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.
Provided, that the salary increase of public school teachers shall take priority over non-
education and non-agricultural budgetary allocations.

Section 6, Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education and the
Department of Budget and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations of the provisions of this Act.

Section 7. Appropriations. The initial funding required for the
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch of
the government and other possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the
President, and subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act for the year following the implementation of this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed. ° Z

Section 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,