" , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution"Articie 14, Sections I and 2 (1) provide: 
The 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. 
The state shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, 
adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs 
of the people and society; 
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OCT 21 
P 4 :44 
Teaching is a noble profession and teaching in a public school is a very challenging job. 
Public school teachers continue to face the perennial problems of poor facilities, large class sizes, 
lack of classrooms, and limited resources for teaching aids. 
As we know, public school teachers are among the lowest paid professionals in society. 
In spite of this, th~y are repeatedly forced to provide for everyday classroom supplies out of their 
own pocket. Traditionally, the government provides classroom teachers with an annual 
allowance for classroom supplies, popularly known as a "chalk allowance." In the Department of 
Education budget for 2011, this cash allowance amounted to P700 per teacher per school year, or 
P3.50 per school day (given 203 school days for 2010-2011). Beginning 2012, this allowance 
was raised to Pl,OOO per teacher per school year, or P4.98 per school day (given an average of 
201 school days since SY 2011-2012). Such a meager amount is not enough to cover the costs 
not only of chalk, but also of other supplies such as erasers, pens, pencils, notebooks, class 
records, manila paper, cartolina, bond paper, art paper, test paper and others, that are essential for 
the daily functioning of teaching and learning in the classroom. 
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This bill proposes to increase the annual allowance for classroom supplies from Pl,OOO to 
P3,OOO, thereby relieving teachers of this onerous financial burden.' 
Lw,- ~h . .-<~ J~ 
gtI',MIRIAM DEF~NSOR s~tfIY;O 
• This bill was originally filed in the House of Representative by Rep. Antonio L. Tinio in the 16th Congress. 
2 


, . 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1867 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
-SCHilti' 
€efh:r of t!le,)Htt'br~ 
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OCT 21 
P 4 :43 
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PROVIDING FOR AN ADEQUATE TEACHING SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE FOR PUBLIC 
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SCHOOL TEACHERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Teaching Supplies Allowance 
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Act of2013." 
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SECTION 2. Teaching Supplies Allowance. - The cash allowance to teachers amounting 
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to Three Thousand Pesos (3,000.00) per school year is hereby provided for public school 
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teachers of elementary and secondary education nationwide. The allowance shall cover their 
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teaching materials. 
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SECTION 3. Periodic Review for Increases. - The Secretary of Education is hereby 
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mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance, taking into account 
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the current prices of classroom supplies, and, if warranted, recommend the necessary increase in 
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the amount of the allowance. The amount required to cover the increase shall be included in the 
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Department of Education's budget proposal for the next fiscal year. 
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SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The necessary amount for the initial implementation of 
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this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Education under the current 
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General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued 
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implementation shall be included in the appropriations of the Department of Education under the 
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annual General Appropriations Act. 
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· , 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrativ.e order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or ame~ded accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
Ijsl 
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