Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City ‘3 BY Tweety
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
3 Regular Session NO Inpek

House Bill No, 11195

Introduced by HON. MARIE FE R. ABUNDA
Representative, Lone District, Eastern Samar

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING DEPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS TO
THE BARRIOS

The rich geography of the Philippines, while serving as a great means for tourism and
natural resources, poses a great challenge to accessibility of sectors and services, most notably in
the country’s rural regions. Education is one such service that suffers from that inaccessibility.

We are replete with stories of school-aged children crossing mountains and rivers just to
reach school. On the other hand, we are full with stories of a few but mighty teachers who travel
to barrios so the children do not have to. However, these teachers do so at great personal and
professional cost. Barrio teachers who volunteer themselves to far-flung areas risk their safety and
health without the benefit of career security, career progress, nor just compensation.

This bill seeks to provide “Teachers to the Barrio” with means more commensurate to
their efforts. By doing so, this bill will not only give these teachers their long-overdue and much
deserved recompense, but would as well encourage like-hearted individuals to engage in teaching
in the barrios.

More so, this bill will aid in the government's effort to formalize and standardize
instruction brought to students in areas which are remote, far-flung, geographically isolated, and/or
generally hard to reach.

It must be noted that this bill still does recognize that further improvements must be made
to address the issue of inaccessibility of education. There are countless roads yet to be built in
order for us to reach barrio classrooms yet to be constructed.

This bill institutionalizing deployment of teachers to the barrios is but one step in the
continuous effort to close the gap in education among students all over the country. As such,
passage of this bill is fervently sought.

Represenkative| Lone District, Eastern Samar

my

DATE December 11, 2024¢)
TIME 1:36pm



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
3” Regular Session

House Bill Né._ 11195

Introduced by HON. MARIE FE R. ABUNDA
Representative, Lone District, Eastern Samar

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING DEPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS TO
THE BARRIOS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “Teacher to the Barrios Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — In line with the standing policy of the State to protect
and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps
to make such education accessible to all’, the State shall guarantee that it shall continuously enable,
incentivize, and assist the “Teacher to the Barrios” as they provide their services in far-flung areas.

Section 3. Objective. — The general objective is to encourage teachers who commit
themselves to serve by conducting study sessions and formal basic education to residents in areas
which are remote, far-flung, geographically isolated, and/or generally hard to reach.

The specific objectives are:

a toaugment the teaching force and school infrastructure needed in the remote, far-flung,
geographically isolated, and/or generally hard to reach areas;

b. to provide items for additional employment for teachers in the government; and

©. to incentivize the efforts of the said teachers by granting compensation and benefits
particular to them.

Section 4. “Teacher to the Barrios” Program. — The Department of Education (DepEd)
is hereby mandated to create a program whereby select teachers, referred here forth as “Teacher
to the Barrios” shall be deployed to remote, far-flung, geographically isolated, and/or generally
hard to reach areas to educate the local residentry with a module or system parallel to that of a

fon 1, Article 14, 1987 Constitution


formal basic education in the form of study sessions, which may be conducted in a public
‘community hall or a private hall

Students who successfully finish education thru the “Teacher to the Barrios” Program,
shall be considered as primary elementary graduates and shall qualify to enroll in junior high-
school or in a technical-vocational program.

Section 5. “Teacher to the Barrios” Pool. The DepEd shall maintain a pool of teaching
force to be deployed at any time to remote, far-flung, geographically isolated, and/or generally
hard to reach areas. The minimum requirements for a “Teacher to the Barrios” shall be the
following:

a. Bachelor of Science in Education graduate;
b. Physically and mentally fit,
¢. Certified to be of good moral character; and

d. Willing to work in remote, far-flung, geographically isolated, and/or generally hard to
reach areas for a full academic year.

Section 6. Compensation and Benefits of a “Teacher to the Barrios”. The “Teacher to
the Barrios” shall receive a basic salary as determined by DepEd, which shall be no lower than
that of an entry level public school elementary teacher's salary. In addition to the basic salary, the
“Teacher to the Barrios” shall be entitled to the following benefits:

a. Representation allowance;

b. Transportation allowance,

c. Hazard pay;

d. Social benefits, including but not limited to PhilHealth, GSIS, Pagibig; and

e. Option to avail of scholarship benefits for postgraduate studies, provided that the
“Teacher to the Barrios has rendered a minimum of four years of service.

Section 7. Determination of Areas for Deployment. The DepEd District Supervisor, in
coordination with the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Local Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD), shall determine the local communities, where a “Teacher 10 the
Barrios” is needed shall be deployed.

Section 8 Local Government Unit Participation. The LGUs may request for the
deployment of “Teacher to the Barrios” in the local communities/barangay within their
jurisdiction. A written request shall be submitted to the DepEd District Supervisor supported by a
resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan and approved by the Local Chief Executive.



‘The LGU may also provide community halls where the learning sessions can be held during
the entire program of the Teacher to the Barrios.

Section 9. Appropriations. The Secretary of the DepEd shall immediately include in the
DepEd program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
Annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 10, Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DepEd District Supervisor, in
coordination with the LGU and the local counterpart of DSWD, shall promulgate and issue the
guidelines and implement rules and regulations for the proper implementation and execution of
this Act within sixty (60) days after the effectivity thereof.

Section 11. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Section 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,