Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. at

Introduced by
REP. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ,
REP. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ AND REP. WELTER ‘SHARKY’ WEE PALMA II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Public school teachers are the pillars of basic education in our country. Much
is owed to them who tirelessly brave the storms brought about by the limitations of
our educational support system. This bill aims to alleviate some of the costs our
teachers selflessly carry on their shoulders—purchasing instructional materials from
their own pockets.

‘As we reel from the effects of COVID-19, our teachers have never ceased in
putting our children’s education first. They have gone over and beyond the call of
duty in making sure no Filipino child will be left behind. It is now our duty to ensure
that no teacher will also be left behind.

This bill aims to provide public basic education teachers with a Teaching
Supplies Allowance to be used for the purchase of instructional materials such as but
not limited to: chalks, papers, pens, forms and IT equipment.

This bill pushes for a grant of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) in the first
year of implementation, Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000.00) and Twenty


Thousand Pesos (Php 20,000.00) in the succeeding years of implementation, for
each public basic education teacher.

As primary witnesses to the devotion of our teachers to their vocation and
their unparalleled dedication to their students, it is high time that we give back to
our beloved teachers and ease their burdens brought about by the costs of teaching
materials.

While much is still needed to be done in improving the education system in
our country, this bill shall immediately address and lessen the out of pocket costs of
our beloved teachers.

The importance of this bill cannot be overemphasized. It is the duty of the
State to ensure that their teaching resources are sufficient, and working conditions

are optimal.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly

oot NL Nyse

Representative, First District of Leyte

‘sought.

YEDDA MARIR K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative, Tinffog Sinirangan Partylist

Arn

. WELTER ‘SHARKY’ WEE PALMA I

Represéntative, First District of Zamboanga Sibugay


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. mae

Introduced by
REP. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ,
REP. YEDDA MARIE K, ROMUALDEZ AND REP. WELTER ‘SHARKY’ WEE PALMA I

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF A TEACHING SUPPLIES
ALLOWANCE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Teaching Supplies
Allowance Act of 2019”.

Sec. 2, Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
State to promote and improve the economic status of teachers and assist them in
providing quality education to their students.

Sec. 3. Teaching Supplies Allowance. — A Teaching Supplies Allowance of Ten
Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) in the first year of implementation, Fifteen
Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000.00) and Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php 20,000.00) in
the succeeding years of implementation, shall be given to each teacher per year to


be used for the purchase of instructional materials such as but not limited to: chalks,
papers, pens, forms and IT equipment.

Sec. 4. Coverage. — The grant of the cash allowance authorized in this Act
shall be limited to teachers who are engaged in actual classroom teaching in public
basic education.

Sec. 5. Funding. — In the first year of the effectivity of this Act, the amount to
be used for the Teaching Supplies Allowance shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the Department of Education (DepEd) and any available funds
and/or savings of the DepEd, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
Thereafter, the Teachers Supplies Allowance, shall be included in the DepEd budget
under the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 6. Periodic Review for Increases. — The Secretary of Education is hereby
mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance, taking
into account the current prices of classroom supplies, and, if warranted, recommend
the necessary increase in the amount of the allowance.

Sec. 7. Implementing Guidelines. — Within thirty (30) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education, in coordination with the
Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance and other
concerned government agencies, shall formulate such rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and
regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any part, section or provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.


Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,