Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(QUEZON CITY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

weno. 5410

Introduced by Hon. Christopher S.Co, Hon. Rodel M. Batocabe, and Hon, Alfredo A. Garbin, Ir.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate business establishments to grant discount privileges to public school
teachers whose earning capabilities are adversely affected by the present economic situation in our
country. They have been given little attention as far as their protection, security and the upliftment of
their physical and social well-being by the government. The worldwide economic crisis, high
unemployment rate, scaring prices of basic commodities have severely strained the capacity of the
public school teachers to provide a decent and dignified living necessitating the assistance and
cooperation of the state.

As provided in the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the State shall assign the
highest 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. [Article 14, Section 5(5)}.

The bill seeks to grant special benefits and privileges ta the public school teachers such as,
among others, discounts in transportation fares, health services, hotels, restaurant, and recreational
facilities through the coo:
imperative need to render assistance to the public school teachers is not only in keeping with the social
Fovision of the Constitution to help therm hurdle the economic hardships of the times but also a
manifestation of our gratitude for all the services and sacrifices experienced by them for the

ion and cooperation of government with public and private entities, The

it of these circumstances,

Hon. Christopher $. Co


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON TY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

wane. 540

AN ACT GRANTING DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES AND OTHER BENEFITS TO
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to give priority to the needs of the public
school teachers. Toward this end, it shall adopt a program that shall uplift their social well-being and
make essential goods, health, recreational and other social services and facilities available to them at
affordable cost.

SEC, 2, Definition of terms. — When used in this Act, the term —

Public School teacher sefers to a Filipino citizen who és a permanent resident of the Philippines, is an
employee of the Department of Education, whether permanent, temporary, casual or contractual.

SEC. 3. Public transport facilities. — All government-owned controlled comperations or private entities
‘owning, operating or managing public transport facilities, whether jand, sea or air, shall give priority to
the public schoof teachers, and provide them with at least twenty percent {20%) discount on al
transportation fares within the Philippines.

SEC. 4. Health Services. — The public school teachers shall also be entitled to a discount of at feast
twenty percent (20%) on fees or charges for hospital, medical and dental services rendered by public
and private medical institutions and practitioners,

Drugstores and drug companies shalt extend to the public school teachers a discount of not less
than twenty percent (20%} on the cost of medicines and supplemental vitamins, as prescribed by a
registered medical or dental practitioner.


SEG. 5. Hotels, Lodging houses, restaurants and eateries, — The public school teachers shall be granted
a minimum discount of twenty percent (20%) on rentals for lodging in hotels, motels, inns, pension or
‘other lodging houses and on the cost of food served in cafes, cafeterias, refreshment parlors,
restaurants, soda fountain bars, carinderias, or food caterers, and other similar establishments.

SEC. 6. Recreational facilities. — A minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees
charged by theatres, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, camivals and other similar places of
amusement shall be granted to the public school teachers.

SEC. 7. Physical fitness facilities. - Any hospital, gym, or other facility offering physical fitness programs
shall extend services to the public school teachers at a twenty percent (20%) discount.

SEC. 8, Loans From Government institutions. — Government. lending institutions shall give priority to
the public school teachers in the grant of loans intended to provide capital for or to finance a livelihood
and other income-generating projects, and other immediate needs in case of emergency, subject to
banking rules and regulations.

SEC. 9. Limitations on discount privileges aad other benefits. ~ The discount privileges and other
benefits mentioned in this Act shall apply only to the personal account of the public school teacher in
payment for services and goods actually used by him or her. These shall in no case extend to his ar her
relatives or companions whe are not qualified beneficiaries under this Act.

SEC. 10. Registration of the public schoot teachers. — A public school teacher who qualifies under this
Act and who wishes to avail of the discount privileges and other benefits provided herein shall be
required to present his or her identification card issued by the Department of Education every time the
privilege is availed of by the public schoo! teacher to the agency, association, company or individual who
granted the discount.

SEC. 11. Deductions from Taxable Income. The amount of discounts granted in pursuance of this Act
shail be allowed as deductions in the computation of taxable income by the public or private entities
and individual granting the discount; Provided however, that tax deductions shall not exceed ten
percent (10%) of its taxable income; Provided further, that the tax deduction under this section shall be
evidenced by copies of the ID cards presented by the public school teachers as provided in this Act.

SEC. 12. Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Education, In coordination with the other
concerned government agencies and in consultation with associations of public school teachers and
non-government organizations addressing the needs of the public school teachers shall issue the rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.


SEC. 13, Penalties. — Any person who refuses to extend the privileges and benefits granted under this
‘Act to a public school teacher entitled thereto after request and proper identification or who unduly
takes advantage of any such privileges or benefits, or who violates any of the rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant to this Act, shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional or a fine of not less
than five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both such
fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

In case the offender is a corporation, cooperative, partnership or association, the penalty shall be
imposed upon the president, manager or officers thereof who had knowingly permitted or were
otherwise responsible for the commission of the offense. If it can be shown that such refusal to grant
discount privileges is a corporate decision, all the members of the beard shall be held liable.

In case of a succeeding offense, the penalties of both imprisonment and fine shall be imposed in the
maximum period. In addition thereto, such shall be sufficient cause for the Immediate cancellation of
the professional cense or permit to operate the business or medical establishment.

SEC. 14, Separabllity cause, — Should any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional, the other
provisions unaffected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 30 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,