iy
Republig éf the Philippines IS 1
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SE oate 10 SEF 15 |

Quezofi €ity, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRE!
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4520

Introduced by Representative Howard A. Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1, Article 14 of the Constitution states that “(T)he State shall protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all.”

Furthermore, Section 5, (5) of the same article also 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 remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and
fulfilment.”

Teaching is a not just a profession; it is a vocation, It requires passion and dedication. This is
true especially here in the Philippines where some teachers travel daily to different cities, municipalities,
and provinces, just to be able to teach in their assigned school. There are even instances where teachers
assigned to teach at remote areas traverse rivers, hills, and even literally mountains rocky roads just to
get to their classes.

Indeed, the passion of our teachers never to teach and mold the Filipino youth burns bright
despite the hardships they face. They always show up for their students knowing the weight of their
duty as teachers for the in shaping the future of our country

‘Owing to the important role of teachers, it is therefore also vital that the national government
be able to adequately compensate teachers assigned to teach in a different city, municipality, or
province, from their place of residence for the expenses they incur and effort they expend just to get to
work. This is but a small token of our gratitude to our teachers for fulfilling their duty as shapers of the
future of the next generation of Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bil



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BIL!

no._ 4520

Introduced by Representative Howard A. Guintu

AN ACT
PROVIDING INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE TO PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO
ARE ASSIGNED OUTSIDE OF THEIR CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND
PROVINCES APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Distance Incentive
Allowance for Public Schoo! Teachers Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t 1s the policy of the state to provide incentives to
public school teachers who are assigned to teaching jobs outside of their respective cities,
municipalities, and provinces. As much as possible, public-school teachers shall be assigned
to the cities or municipalities of their residence.

SEC. 3. Assignment to Another Town Within the Same Province. - Any public-school
assigned to a city, municipality, or province outside of the city, municipality, or
province of their place of residence, shall in addition to his basic salary and benefits under the
Salary Standardization Law, be entitled to Two Thousand (P2,000.00) Pesos monthly as
it allowance.

SEC. 4. Assignment to Another Province. - Any public-school teacher who is assigned
to a city or municipality of another province, other than their own, shall in addition to their
basic salary and benefits under the Salary Standardization Law be entitled to receive Four
Thousand (P4000.00) Pesos a month as incentive allowance.


SEC. 5. Transferees. - The provisions of this Act shall apply to any public-school
teacher who is officially transferred from their original assignment in accordance with the
lawful orders of their superiors.

SEC. 6. End of Benefit. - A public-school teacher who has received benefits under this
Act but is eventually transferred to their city or municipality of residence shall cease to be
entitled to the incentive allowance therein. The establishment of residence by a public-school
teacher in the city/municipality where they are assigned shall have the same effect as being
transferred to their own city/municipality as provided in the previous paragraph.

SEC. 7. Tax Exemption. - Incentive allowance received under the provisions of this
‘Act shall be exempt from tax liability

SEC 8. Proof of Residence. - For purposes of determining the city, municipality, or
province of origin of a public-school teacher, the scholastic records filed in the Department of
Education shall be consulted; otherwise, the sealed certification from the city/municipal mayor
or the provincial governor shall be used.

SEC. 9. Emergency Assignment. - The incentive allowance provided in this Act shall
not be availed of by public-school teachers who are assigned to a different city, municipality,
or province in the event of national disaster or national emergency.

SEC. 10. Funding. - The President is hereby authorized to realign or transfer any item
of appropriation within the Department of Education and/or utilize any savings therein to carry
out the purpose of this Act during the first year of its effectivity. Thereafter, the amounts
required for the implementation of this Act shall be included as a separate item in the General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of his Act, the Secretary of the Department of Education shall, in coordination with
other stakeholders, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, parts of provisions of this Act that are not affected shall continue
to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees.
Implementing Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 14. 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,