Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher “Toff” P. de Venecia 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Teachers are invaluable to our society. Their responsibility in molding the values and 
character of the young generation of the country cannot be overestimated. Aside from, 
educating our children, teachers are likewise the most reliable and dedicated servants. And 
yet, it is unfortunate that they remain undercompensated and undervalued in our society. 
Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers provides for the 
standards and fundamental principles in their employment, salaries and benefits, and working 
conditions, as well as some of teachers’ civil rights—all of which are enforceable obligations 
which they can invoke against the government. However, the same rights must be accorded 
to private school teachers, who, in most cases, experience the same struggles as our public 
school teachers.  
This measure provides for the basic standards in employment including criteria in the 
setting of salaries; monetary benefits and leave benefits; other benefits as may be provided by 
existing or pertinent laws; basic trade union and political rights such as the right to self-
organization; and penalties and other liabilities for violation of any rights of private school 
teachers. 
This bill aims to promote and improve the social and economic status of private 
school teachers and provide professional rights and safeguards in consideration of the 
exigency and level of difficulty of the exercise of their profession. This measure will also 
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greatly address common issues in the private school work place such as late or 
undercompensation, unfair promotion, or unfair labor practices by employers. Lastly, this bill 
hopes to empower the private school teacher so that they could focus on teaching and 
molding the futures of our learners  
It is for the reasons stated above that the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER “TOFF” P. DE VENECIA 
Fourth District, Pangasinan 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher “Toff” P. de Venecia 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA OF PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
A. General Provisions
SECTION 1. Declaration Of Policy.—It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State 
to promote and improve the social and economic status of private school teachers, their living 
and working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects in order that they 
may compare favorably with existing opportunities in other walks of life, attract and retain in 
the teaching profession more people with the proper qualifications, it being recognized that 
teachers in private schools play a vital role in the delivery of education to Filipino children. 
SEC. 2. Guiding Principles. – In matters involving the rights and welfare of private 
school teachers, the following are the guiding principles: 
a) Education is a vital function of society and as such, shall be given due recognition and
support by the government.
b) Teachers play an essential role in inculcating upon pupils and students respect for
human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in the total development of a human
personality and of the nation as a whole.  It is important, therefore, that their own
civil, political, and socio-economic rights shall be respected, protected, and fulfilled.
c) Teachers comprise the largest group of professional and service workers of society
and, if united, can be potent agents of progressive reform in the educational system
and the nation as a whole.
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d) Working conditions for teachers should be such as will best promote effective 
teaching, research, and extension work to enable them to carry out their professional 
tasks. 
e) All aspects of employment and tenure of teachers shall be free from any form of 
discrimination of grounds of sex, gender, civil status, religion, political belief or 
affiliation, economic condition, or membership in any organization.  
f) Faculty organizations shall be recognized as a force which can contribute greatly to 
the advancement of the rights and welfare of teachers.  Therefore, their right to 
participate in the determination of education and personnel policies, shall be fully 
respected.  
g) Teachers have the capacity to propagate a nationalist and scientific education. 
 
SEC. 3. Construction in Favor of Teachers. – All doubts in the implementation and 
interpretation of the provisions of this Act including its implementing rules and regulations 
shall be resolved in favor of teachers. 
 
SEC. 4. Definition. – As used in this Act, “teacher” shall mean all persons engaged in 
classroom teaching in any level of instruction on full-time or part-time basis. Provided, That 
teachers in the basic and secondary level are duly-licensed by the Professional Regulation 
Commission; 
 
B. Recruitment and Career 
 
SEC. 5. Minimum Qualifications of a Private School Teacher.  – Teaching personnel in 
pre-school, elementary and secondary level of basic education in all private schools must 
possess professional teaching licenses.  For basic education, those who have not passed the 
Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) but have pre-LET required Education units may 
be hired, Provided, that they shall be given at least three years from the date of hiring, or 
from the effectivity of this Act in cases of teachers already hired, to take and pass the LET.  
Furthermore, a master’s degree in teaching, education, pedagogy and other similar, related, or 
allied disciplines shall deemed an equivalent of a professional teaching license for purposes 
of this Section. 
 
For all levels of instruction, the following shall constitute the minimum educational 


 
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qualifications for teacher-applicants: 
a) Pre-school and elementary - Bachelor’s degree in elementary education or its 
equivalent. Pre-school teachers shall have at least six units of professional subjects 
relating to pre-primary education. 
b) Secondary, for Academic subjects - Bachelor’s degrees in secondary education or its 
equivalent or Bachelor of Arts or Science degree or its equivalent with at least 
eighteen professional units in education. 
c) Secondary Vocational and Two-Year Technical Courses - Bachelor’s degrees in the 
field of specialization with at least eighteen professional units in education. 
d) Collegiate Level other than Vocational - Master’s degrees with a specific area of 
specialization or a specialization in an allied discipline except when there is a lack of 
applicants with Master’s Degree in which case a bachelor’s degree in specific area of 
specialization or a specialization in an allied discipline will suffice subject to 
regulations which the CHED will impose.  Other equivalent professional experience, 
especially for practitioners of skills related to an area of specialization or an allied 
discipline, shall also be deemed as equivalent of the degree requirement for the 
purpose of hiring college teachers, subject to reasonable regulations which the CHED 
may impose. 
e) Graduate School Level - Doctor of Philosophy with a specific area of specialization 
except when there is a lack of applicants with PhD, in which case, a master’s degree 
in specific area of specialization will suffice subject to reasonable regulations which 
the CHED may impose.  Furthermore, other equivalent professional experience, 
especially for practitioners of skills related to an area of specialization or an allied 
discipline, shall be deemed equivalent of the degree requirement for the purpose of 
hiring graduate level teachers in certain instances, subject to reasonable regulations 
which the CHED may impose.  
No provision of this Act may be used as basis for diminution of pay or benefits, demotion 
in rank or status, or dismissal of non-holders of professional teaching license or its 
equivalent.  
 
SEC. 6. Tenure/Permanency and Full-Time/Part-Time Status.  – As in public schools, 
when recruitment takes place after adequate training and professional preparation in any 
school recognized by the Government, the teachers shall be considered tenured upon hiring, 
provided that the conditions of hiring are strictly related to professional competence and the 


 
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pertinent degree requirement/s have been complied with.  For basic education, teachers and 
non-Education graduates who have pre-LET required education units, but have yet to take or 
have yet to pass the LET, shall be deemed as tenured upon satisfying the LET requirement or 
its equivalent at any time within the three-year period from the date of hiring.  For tertiary 
education and graduate level, teachers who are hired on a full-time basis are considered 
tenured upon hiring.  
 
Part-time teachers who have rendered at least one school year, two semesters, or three 
trimesters of service, be it consecutive or not, shall have the right to signify their intention to 
the school authorities to become a full-time, and hence, a permanent teacher. 
 
For basic education, all teachers shall be hired on a full-time basis.  Vocational 
schools and senior high schools can choose to hire some part-time teachers, especially 
practitioners of specific skills or full-time college teachers, for specific instances, subject to 
DepEd’s regulations.  
 
For tertiary education, the full-time to part-time teacher ratio shall be 7:3. 
 
SEC. 7. Teachers on Probationary Period.  – Probationary employment of teachers shall 
not exceed six months from the date the teacher started working.  The services of an 
employee who has been engaged on a probationary basis may be terminated for a just cause 
or when he or she fails to qualify as a regular employee in accordance with reasonable 
standards made known by the school administration to the teacher at the time of the 
engagement of the latter.  A teacher who is allowed to work after the lapse of the 
probationary period shall be deemed as a regular employee. 
 
SEC. 8. Security of Tenure. – Teachers shall be assured of stability of employment and 
security of tenure.  No private school teacher shall be dismissed by the school except for 
cause and the proper observance of due process. 
 
SEC. 9. Consent For Transfer. – Except for cause and as herein otherwise provided, no 
teacher shall be transferred without their consent from one branch, station, or campus to 
another.  However, where the exigencies of the service require the transfer of a teacher form 
one branch, station, or campus to another, such transfer may be affected by the school 


 
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administration only after notifying the teacher in writing with regard to the reasons for the 
transfer, at least 90 days prior to the transfer.  If the teacher believes there is no justification 
for the transfer, he or she cannot be compelled to transfer to any branch, station, or campus if 
such fact will result into additional burden and expense on the part of the latter.  Acceptance 
of notification and transfer will only be valid if it is in writing and signed by the teacher. 
 
SEC. 10. Discrimination Against Teachers Prohibited. – There shall be no 
discrimination whatsoever in the entrance to the teaching profession or during its exercise or 
in the termination of service based on consideration other than professional qualifications. 
 
SEC. 11. Advancement and Promotion of Teachers in Basic Education.  – Subject to 
necessary qualifications, teachers shall be assured opportunities to move from one type or 
classification to a higher level or rank. 
 
Promotion shall be based on objective assessment of the teacher’s qualifications for the 
new post by reference to strictly professional criteria laid down in consultation with teacher’s 
organizations existing within the school.  There shall be transparency in the computation of 
teacher’s evaluation which is composed of the following criteria the respective weights of 
which shall be set upon consultation with all stakeholders including teachers’ organization or 
union: self-evaluation, student evaluation, peer/co-faculty and staff evaluation, and 
administration evaluation. 
 
SEC. 12. Ranking of Faculty Members in Higher Education. – Faculty members in 
higher education shall be assigned academic ranks in accordance with their academic training 
and scholarship.  Criteria for ranking shall be performance-oriented and determined in 
collaboration with the teachers’ organizations.  Teachers have the right to choose what 
components shall bear more weight in their respective situations: teaching/instruction, 
service/community engagement, and research/scholarship. 
 
A new member of the faculty in the collegiate level shall begin as an instructor, provided 
that there shall be opportunities for promotion to a higher rank upon hiring, if such appointed 
designation is warranted by his experience, training and scholarship credentials. 
 
SEC. 13. Academic Freedom. — Teachers shall enjoy academic freedom in the discharge 


 
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of their professional duties, particularly with regard to teaching and classroom methods.  In 
particular, the concept of teachers’ academic freedom shall consist of the following rights: 
a) the teacher’s freedom in the exposition of his or her own subject and related matters 
in the classroom or in speeches and publications; 
b) the teacher’s freedom in the choice of subjects of research and investigation 
undertaken on their own initiative; 
c) the school authorities’ recognition that whenever the teacher is speaking or writing 
outside of their field of study, he or she shall be entitled to the same responsibility as 
attached to all other citizens; and 
d) the teachers’ right to choose textbooks and other references or supplementary 
instructional materials he or she deems fit to his or her particular subject or discipline.  
 
C. Hours of Work, Remuneration, and Leaves 
 
SEC. 14. Teaching Hours. – Actual classroom teaching in basic education shall not be 
more than six hours a day and shall be so scheduled as to give teachers time for the 
preparation and correction of exercises and other work incidental to normal teaching duties, 
Provided, however, that where the exigencies of the service so require, teachers may be 
required to render more than six hours but not exceeding eight hours of actual classroom 
teaching a day upon payment of additional compensation at the same rate as his or her regular 
remuneration plus at least twenty five percent of the basic pay. 
 
For a faculty member in higher education, his or her regular full-time load shall not be 
more than twelve hours per week with two preparations in line with the teacher’s major 
subject except as otherwise provided herein.  However, said teaching load may be reduced in 
case a member of the faculty is occupied either in research, creative writing, or other 
productive scholarship or is assigned to perform administrative or committee work in which 
case the dean or director may recommend the appropriate teaching load, Provided, however, 
that the total working hours spent on both teaching and administrative or other duties shall 
not exceed fifteen hours per week. 
 
SEC. 15. Additional Compensation. – Notwithstanding any provision of existing law to 
the contrary, teachers may be given co-curricular and off-campus activities or any other 
activities beyond their normal duties that will make them work longer than their regular 


 
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workload, Provided, that they shall be paid the regular compensation for the actual hours 
worked plus an additional compensation of at least twenty five percent of their regular 
remuneration. 
 
SEC. 16. Hardship Allowances. — In areas where teachers are exposed to hardship 
peculiar to the place of employment such as difficulty in commuting to the place of work, 
conducting laboratory experiments, or other hazards, they shall be compensated with special 
hardship allowance equivalent to at least twenty five percent of their monthly salary.  For 
laboratory subjects in college, the hardship allowance should be automatically granted on a 
monthly basis.   
 
SEC. 17. Criteria for Salaries. — Teacher’s salaries shall: 
1. Reflect the importance to society of the teaching function and hence the 
importance of teachers as well as the responsibilities of all kinds which fall upon 
them from the time of their entry into the service; 
2. Compare favorably with salaries paid in other occupations requiring similar or 
equivalent qualifications, training, and abilities; 
3. Provide teacher with the means to ensure a reasonable standard of life for 
themselves and their families as well as to invest in further education or in the 
pursuit of cultural activities, thus enhancing their professional qualification; 
4. Take account of the fact that certain posts require higher qualifications and 
experience and carry greater responsibilities; 
5. Be paid regularly and on time; 
6. Be reviewed periodically to take into action such factors as a rise in the cost of 
living, increased productivity leading to higher standards of life, or a general 
upward movement in wage or salary levels; 
7. Not be less than the entry-level salary of that a public school teacher, in the case 
of private school teachers with an entry-level rank.  
 
SEC. 18. Salaries Paid on Monthly Basis. – Salaries of teachers shall be paid on monthly 
basis for a period of twelve months regardless of semestral or summer vacations.  For 
purposes of this Section, “monthly basis” shall mean that teachers shall be considered paid 
for all the days of the month including rest days and holidays.  Teachers who are required to 


 
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work during semestral or summer vacations shall be paid an additional compensation pro 
rata. 
 
SEC. 19. Annual Salary Adjustment. – Salary scales of teachers shall be adjusted upward 
annually, upon consultation with teachers’ organizations, to mitigate the effects of inflation 
as measured by the consumer price index. 
 
SEC. 20. Deductions Prohibited. –  No person shall make any deduction from the 
salaries of teachers except under specific laws authorizing such deductions. 
 
D.  Leave and Retirement Benefits 
 
SEC. 21. Sick Leave. – Full-time teachers in basic education shall be entitled to an 
annual sick leave with pay of fifteen working days.  Part-time teachers in basic education 
shall be entitled to sick leave with pay on pro-rated basis.  Faculty members in the collegiate 
level, whether full-time or part-time, shall enjoy sick leave with pay of fifteen working days.  
Unused sick leave shall be accumulated to not more than sixty days and converted to cash 
upon resignation or retirement of the teacher concerned. 
 
SEC. 22. Vacation Leave. – Full-time teachers shall be entitled to an annual vacation 
leave with full pay of fifteen days. 
 
SEC. 23. Indefinite Leave. – An indefinite sick leave of absence shall be granted to 
teachers when the nature of the illness demands a long treatment that will exceed one year at 
the least. 
 
SEC. 24. Emergency Leave. – In case of calamities where a teacher becomes a victim, or 
in the event of death in his or her immediate family, or any serious accident befalling him or 
her or a dependent, he or she shall be entitled to an emergency leave with pay of not 
exceeding five days per year. 
 
SEC. 25. Study Leave and Sabbatical Leave. – In addition to these leave privileges now 
enjoyed by teachers in private schools, they shall be entitled to study leave not exceeding one 
school year at any given year after five years of accumulated service, consecutive, or not.  


 
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During the period of such leave, the teachers shall be entitled to 100% of their monthly 
salary.  All private school teachers are also entitled to avail of a sabbatical leave—equivalent 
to a one-year leave—after every seven years of accumulated service, consecutive or not.  
Sabbatical leaves can be postponed as per the request of teachers.  In all cases, the study 
leave and sabbatical leave period shall be counted for seniority, promotion, and pension 
purposes. 
 
SEC. 26. Other Leaves. – Subject to the guidelines to be set by DepEd and CHED in 
coordination with national teachers’ organizations, private school teachers shall also be 
entitled to other forms of leaves including, but not limited to the following: rehabilitation 
leave, bereavement leave, short-term vacation leave, and professional leave. 
 
E. Health Measures and Injury Benefits 
 
SEC. 27. Medical Examination and Treatment. – Compulsory medical examination shall 
be provided free for all private school teachers before their employment and annually 
thereafter. 
 
Where medical examination shows that medical treatment and/or hospitalization is 
necessary for infectious diseases or injuries suffered not only during teaching or on-campus 
activities but also when engaged in school related activities away from the school premises or 
off-campus, the same shall be provided free by the school concerned.  With regard to the 
aforementioned diseases or injuries, the school should also shoulder 100% of professional 
fees for any treatment, medication, and/or hospitalization required or recommended by 
medical professionals.  
 
In regions where there is scarcity of medical facilities, teachers may obtain elsewhere the 
necessary medical care with the right to be reimbursed for their travelling expenses by the 
private school management concerned. 
 
SEC. 28. Compensation for Injuries. – Teachers shall be protected against the 
consequences of employment injuries in accordance with existing laws.  The effects of the 
physical and nervous strain on the teacher’s health shall be recognized as a compensable 
disease in accordance with existing laws. 


 
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SEC. 29. Social Security. – Social security benefits of teachers shall strictly be pursuant 
to applicable laws including those administered by the Social Security System.  However, 
this shall be without prejudice to benefits higher than the standards set by laws, either 
pursuant to policies set by school employers or pursuant to agreements, including collective 
bargaining agreements entered by school employers and teachers’ unions.  School employers 
shall endeavor to formulate such policies and agreements towards meeting the standards of 
social security set out in relevant instruments of the International Labor Organization, in 
particular the Social Security Convention of 1952. 
 
SEC. 34. De Minimis Benefits. – Private school teachers are also entitled to de minimis 
benefits that include eyeglass allowance, rice allowance, clothing allowance, wellness 
allowance, data packet/communications allowance, full HMO coverage for the teacher and 
their spouse and their children (or parent/s from either side), and full HMO coverage for 
single teachers and both parents.  Schools are highly encouraged to provide additional de 
minimis benefits, beyond those listed in this Section. 
 
F.  Teachers’ Organizations 
 
SEC. 35. Freedom to Organize. – Pursuant to the constitutional right to self-
organization, private school teachers shall have the right, freely and without previous 
authorization, to establish and to join organizations of their choosing, whether local or 
national, to further defend their economic, civil, or political interests.  Schools where there 
are no faculty organizations or unions shall allow the formation of such organizations or 
unions, within six months of the implementation of this Act.  
 
SEC. 36. Discrimination Against Teachers Prohibited. – It shall be unlawful for any 
person to commit any act of discrimination against teachers which are calculated: 
a) To make the employment and/or promotion of the teacher subject to the condition that 
he or she shall not join an organization, or shall relinquish membership in an 
organization; 
b) To cause the dismissal of, or otherwise prejudice a teacher by reason of membership 
in an organization, activity outside school hours, or with the consent of the proper 
school authorities within school hours; and 


 
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c) To prevent him or her from carrying out the duties imposed upon him or her by his or 
her position in the organization, or to penalize him or her for an action undertaken in 
that capacity. 
 
SEC. 37. Participation in Policy Making.  – Teachers shall have the right to be actively 
represented in the Governing Boards of their respective schools, colleges, and universities 
and shall be consulted in the formulation of professional standards, educational policies, and 
other rules affecting their rights and welfare. 
 
SEC. 38. Strike, Picketing and Other Concerted Activities. – The right of teachers and 
their organizations to conduct strikes, pickets, and other concerted activities shall not be 
impaired in any manner, nor their exercise prejudice any teacher or teachers’ organization. 
 
G. Final Provisions 
 
SEC. 39. Teaching of the Magna Carta of Private School Teachers. – The teaching of 
this Act shall be compulsory in all schools offering courses in education. 
 
SEC. 40. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education, the 
Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Labor and Employment, in 
consultation with teachers’ organizations, shall jointly promulgate the rules and regulations 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.  Rules and regulations issued pursuant to 
this Section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in a newspaper of general 
circulation or by such other means as the Secretaries deem reasonably sufficient to give all 
concerned parties general notice of such issuance. 
 
SEC. 41. Penal Provision. – A person who willfully interferes with, restrains or coerces 
any teacher in the exercise of his or her rights guaranteed by this Act or who in any manner 
violates any provision of this Act or the rules duly issued hereunder shall be punished with a 
fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00) or by imprisonment of 
not more than six (6) years, or both, in the discretion of the court. 
 
This provision shall be without prejudice to the liabilities of persons under civil laws. 
 


 
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SEC. 42. Administrative Sanctions. – The implementing Rules and Regulations shall 
include therein the appropriate rules for the imposition of administrative sanctions upon 
private schools that will violate any of the foregoing rights of a private school teacher. 
 
SEC. 43. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and 
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 44. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SEC. 45. Effectivity Clause. – This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,