Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5884

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Teaching is the profession that creates all other professions. The educators’
influence and knowledge shape the lives of their students and hone them to become
productive members of society. But while teachers are genuinely fulfilled in their
practice, their salaries are not commensurate to the volume of work and amount of
sacrifices they make to educate the youth. In addition, these teachers often shell out
money from thelr own pockets to purchase the materials they use in teaching. This is on
top of the "chalk allowance” that teachers receive from the Department of Education.

At present, our public school teachers are receiving Php1,500.00 for their annual
teaching supplies. While this is significantly more than their 2011 cash allowance worth
Php700.00, it is still not enough to cover the costs of teaching supplies like pens, class
records, cartolinas, art supplies, CDs, flash drive, and others.

Republic Act No, 4670, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Public School
Teachers, provides that public school teachers’ salaries “shall be such as to insure
teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families.” Thus, It is
imperative for the State to promote policies that will improve the living and working
conditions of our public school teachers,

This bill! seeks to institutionalize the grant of a teaching supplies allowance for
public school teachers and increase it from Php 1,500.00 to Php 5,000.00.

Education is one of the best investments our country can put in. Quality
education creates jobs, breaks the cycle of poverty, and helps us achieve national
development. A great nation requires a highly competitive education system, which in
turn requires world class and passionate teachers, Through this, we are providing

* This proposal is similar to Senate Bill No. 812 which was filed by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G.
Recto. Senate Bill No. 812 has been approved on Third Reading by the Philippine Senate on 30 May 2017.


Filipino educators with the proper tools and equipment to hone the holistic
development of students, thereby ensuring the bright future of our nation.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

v


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 9884

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANT OF A TEACHING SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1, Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Teaching Supplies
Allowance Act.”

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State
to promote and improve the economic status of teachers and assist them in providing
quality education to their students.

SEC. 3. Teaching Supplies Allowance. — A Teaching Supplies Allowance for the
purchase of chalks, erasers, forms, and other classroom supplies and materials in the
amount of five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) per teacher per school year is hereby
authorized.

SEC. 4. Coverage. — The grant of the cash allowance authorized in this Act shall
be limited to teachers who are engaged In actual classroom teaching in public basic
education,

SEC. 5. Funding. — In the first year of the effectivity of this Act, the amount of two
thousand pesos (Php2,500,00) per teacher shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the Department of Education (DepEd) for the teaching supplies
allowance, while the additional amount of two thousand five hundred pesos
(Php2,500.00) per teacher shall be charged against the any available funds and savings
of the DepEd. Thereafter, the amount of five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) per teacher
per school year shall be included in the DepEd budget for the teaching supplies
allowance under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6, Periodic Review for Increases. — The Secretary of Education is hereby
mandated to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance, taking into
account the current prices of classroom supplies, and, if warranted, recommend the
necessary increase in the amount of the allowance.


SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders or ordinances,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended or modifiedaccordingly.

SEC. 8, Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in theOfficial Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,