Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

46
House Bill No. 1379

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the vision of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to provide
programs for the promotion and improvement of the social well-being and
economic status of public school teachers, including their living and working
conditions, terms of employment and career prospects.

Apparently, for many years after its enactment in 1966, most provisions of
the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers remain unenforced or
unimplemented. Today, it is a common knowledge that the teaching in public
schools does not hold the promise of a high-paying job. Public school educators,
who comprise almost half of all government workers, remain to be one of the
lowest paid and most overworked in the country today. Their take-home pay
does not take them home. To secure a better future for their family, they take the
option of trying their luck in foreign lands leaving their families behind and the
country with insufficient qualified educators for its growing student population
The migration of educators to find better opportunities deprives our education
system with the knowledge and expertise of skilled, competent and dedicated
school educators.

To alleviate their present condition, this bill seeks to provide our public
school educators non-wage benefits in the form of special discounts on private
establishments, medicines, restaurants, fares and other business institutions. It is
a due recognition for their unselfish dedication to the profession by expanding
their meager salary with further benefits.

The discount privileges under this proposed measure are just modest
provisions in order to help improve the plight of our public school educators,
considering the significant role they perform in nation building. This will
eventually bring about socio-economic transformation that is heralding teaching
as a noble profession.

In view of the foregoing, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought,

J
ely

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY



FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OFTHE).
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

House of Representatives

House Bill No. 1379

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
PROVIDING FURTHER BENEFITS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN
FORM OF DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES, PROVIDING THE MECHANICS.
FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. —- Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution,
professionalism and adequate remuneration and benefits of public school
educators shall be a primary concern of the State. Towards this end, the State
shall give due recognition for their unselfish dedication to the profession by
supplementing their meager salary with further benefits.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, educators shall
include only duly registered public school educators or their equivalent, i.e.,
instructors and professors.

SECTION 3. Privileges for School Educators. — Public school
educators, in addition to their existing benefits, shall be entitled to the following
privileges:

a) A fifteen percent (15%) discount from restaurants, wet markets,

supermarkets and rice dealers anywhere in the country.

b) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all purchases and admission
fees from amusement and entertainment centers, such as, but not
limited to, movie theaters, concert halls and carnivals.

c) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on economy class air transportation

passenger fees charged by airlines.


d) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all economy and special
economy class or their equivalent on sea transportation fees charged
by shipping lines.

e)

A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all land transport passenger
fees charged by bus and taxi companies, Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail
Transit, and Philippine National Railways.

f) A discount of fifteen percent (15%) on all medicine purchases,
laboratory analysis and other related tests, medical diagnosis, and
professional fees, provided that a prescription or order as the case
may be in the name of the availing educator shall be presented.

SECTION 4. Applicability in Relation to Existing Discount Privileges.
- The aforementioned privileges shall not be availed in conjunction with other
discounts that the public school educators may also be entitled, e.g. senior
citizen discounts. Provided, however, that under such instances, the _ privilege
with higher discount provision shall be applied to the availing public school
educators.

SECTION 5. Tax Credit. —- The establishments or companies that extend
to the public school educators any of the discount privileges provided in this Act
may claim the cost as tax credit.

SECTION 6. Penalties. - Any person, owner of establishments, or
responsible officer of companies who fails to provide the mandated benefits of
this Act shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding Twenty Thousand Pesos or
by imprisonment not exceeding twelve (12) months, or both such fine and
imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 7. Implementing Guidelines. - The Department of Education
(DepED), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Department of


Health (DoH), and the Department of Finance (DOF) shall, within ninety (90)
days from the promulgation of this Act, issue the necessary guidelines to carry
out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 8. Monitoring Committee. - There is hereby created a
Monitoring Committee, herein referred to as the Committee, which shall be under
the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd). The Committee shall be
composed of eight (8) members representing each of the departments/agencies
mentioned in Section 7 hereof. The Department of Education (DepEd)
representative shall become the Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee shall organize itself to look after the implementation of this
Act, and shall submit to both Houses of Congress a quarterly report on the
general execution of granting certain discount privileges to public school
educators as provided in this Act, indicating therein the Committee's assessment,
evaluation, and recommendations.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision in this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of
the other provisions hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, rules and regulations or part
or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified, superseded or amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,