REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

H.B.NO keg

Introduced by HON. AL FRANCIS C. BICHARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide additional allowance and benefit to public elementary
and secondary school teachers to be known as “Anti-Poverty Allowance”. With the
towering costs of gasoline, electricity, and other basic commodities, there is an
imperative need to improve the economic plight of our public school teachers.

It is a constitutionally mandated principle of the State to 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 fulfillment. Moreover, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (R.A.
4670) provides that it is the duty of the State to promote and improve the social and
economic status of public school teachers.

It is unfortunate however that, under the present pay scale of civil servants, public
school teachers receive a minimum salary of only PhP10,933. Undeniably, our public
school teachers can barely cope with the daily standard of living with such meager sum.
Reliable surveys reveal that the typical family of a public school teacher lives below’ the
Philippine poverty line. Ultimately, this bill aims to combat poverty among our public
school teachers in order to uplift their dignity and that of the public teaching profession.

Itis high time to increase our public teacher’s salary considering that low teacher
salaries prevent talented and intelligent individuals from both entering and staying in the
profession. Some of our brightest and most talented teachers seck employment abroad
where ‘hey are promised greater pay and benefits. Needless to state, increasi.g teacher's
salaries is a key in attracting and retaining more high-quality educatgrs in our public
schools.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of thig/ill 5 reque}td.

2" Distrigt, Albay


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESS'ON )

Hp.no.__ 129

Introduced by HON. AL FRANCIS C, BICHARA

AN ACT INCREASING THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS BY PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE TO BE KNOWN AS “ANTI-POVERTY
ALLOWANCE”, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR SUCH
OTHER PURPOSES.

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

Section 1. All public elementary and secondary school teachers are herzby
grantsd Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) additional allowance per month, to be
known as “Anti-Poverty Allowance”. Such allowance shall be considered an additional
compensation to their existing salary and benefits and shall be considered as part of their
basic salary for the purpose of computing retirement benefits and bonuses to which they
are entitled, in accordance with existing laws.

Section 2. For purposes of this Act, public elementary and secondary school
teachers shall be understood to include the following:

a) Nationally-Funded Public School Teachers which include persons engaged in:
(1) actual classroom teaching in public basic education; (2) teaching’ in
alternative learning system (ALS); and (3) actual classroom teaching in the
Philippine Science High School System.

b

Locally-Funded Teachers which include public school teachers who are hired
and paid for, fully or partially, by a local government unit or any cther local
entity in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Department
of Education,

Provided however, that, Locally-Funded Teachers shall be included in the
implementation of this Act only if the local government unit or local entity concerned has
available funds therefor. Provided further, that, for the year following the implementation
of this Act, the local government unit or local entity concerned shall provide funds
needed for its effective implementation.

Section 3. Appropriations —To immediately implement the provisions of this
Act, the initial funding shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Brach of the
government and other possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the
President, provided that, subsequent funds needed shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act (GAA) for the year following the approval of this Act

Section 4, Rules and Regulations.—The Secretary of Education shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act


Section 5. Separability Clause-—Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

Section 6. Repealing Clause.—All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
othcr issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions with this Act are hereby repealed

or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.