Republic of the Philippine:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 1034

Helen” D.L.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 11, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides that: “The State shall
give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation
and development.”

Likewise, Article XIV, Section 5 [5] states that “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 ret ion_and

other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment” (emphasis supplied).

The present plight of our poor teachers, especially those in the public schools,
however, betrays the best intentions of the Constitution. Our teachers are not accorded
the due recognition and importance they deserve. They are unappreciated, overworked
and underpaid. Their salaries are insultingly low and with the high cost of living today, it
is no wonder that many of the best and the brightest in the teaching profession are now
teaching abroad or, worse, have migrated to work as caregivers or domestic helpers.

The importance of the role of public school teachers in educating the Filipino
youth cannot be overemphasized. Hence, there is the urgency of instilling professional
and personal integrity of teachers by giving them the recognition and the benefits that
they rightly deserve.

Republic Act No. 4670 or the “Magna Carta for Public School Teachers”,
provides, as a matter of policy, for the promotion and improvement of the social and
economic status of public 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 advancement in
education depends on the qualifications and ability of the teaching staff and that
education is an essential factor in the economic growth of the nation as a productive
investment of vital importance.

For education to become an essential key in the country’s global competitiveness,
the State should provide for additional benefits and incentives to our teachers by enabling
them to access institutionalized scholarship grants. This measure hopes to help in the
nationwide effort to attract and retain exceptional and dedicated teachers who will nurture
our young Filipinos to become productive partners in nation-building,

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANGELINA nol an, M.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1034

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANT
TEACHERS

TO PUBLIC SCHOOL

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

ION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
‘hool Teachers Act of 2013”,

cholarship Grants to Public

Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to provide advanced
education to public schools teachers through institutionalized scholarship grants. ‘The
scholarship grants endeavor to provide learning opportunities to public school teachers
and foster self esteem and high morale among them. Providing public school teache
access to free education will help them become competitive and better members of the
academic community.

SE

3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean:

1. “Public school teachers” - shall refer to all persons engaged in classroom
teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis or part-time basi
including guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational
instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative
functions in all schools, colleges and universities operated by the Government or
its political subdivisions; but shall not include school nurses, school physicians,
school dentists, and other school employees:

2. “Scholarship grant” - scholarship grants covering any post graduate course.

SEC. 4. Eligibility of public school teachers to avail of grant. - Public school teachers
who are in active service shall be eligible to avail of the scholarship grants to enroll
any post graduate course. Provided, that the public school teacher shall have been in
tive duty for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application
for the grant.

Schools where scholarship grant applicable. - The scholarship grant shall be
applicable in al state universities throughout the country.

SEC. 6. Forfeiture of Grant. - Public school teachers who have been charged and proven
to have committed acts of professional misconduct shall forfeit their eligibility to avail of
the grant.

SEC. 7. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) shall be the implementing agencies for this Act and shall
formulate the implementing rules and regulations.


SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 10, Efectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.