SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
Second Regular Session )

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF FREE ON-SITE LIVING QUARTERS FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), there were 22.9 million
students who enrolled in public elementary schools and high schools nationwide for
the school year 2017-2018.

In the 2017 budget of DepEd, around Php19.5 Billion was allocated for the
creation of 58,831 teacher positions and 13,391 non-teaching positions.

The above-mentioned statistics simply illustrate that there is a huge demand
for the services of public school teachers to ensure that quality education is indeed
accessible and should be affordable for all Filipino children.

The focus of this legislative measure is a concern/aspect of public education
that seems to be out of reach by statistics. Unknown to most of Filipinos, lots of
public school teachers are forced to teach in public schools located far away from
their respective hometowns, far away from their respective families. Some teach
within the same town but in the remotest of barrios in said town.

To be able to save time and energy, some of said teachers opt to incur board
and lodging expenses in exchange of the daily financial and physical struggle
required by traveling from their homes to the public schools where they teach at.

"18 MAY 10 P2117,

sna tf99 SY



Teaching is a very noble profession and is something that becomes part of
each and every future graduate and/or professional. Though education must be
made accessible and affordable for Filipino children and/or youth, it should not, on
the other hand, provide added burden and sacrifice on the part of our public school
teachers who have already opted to teach away from their homes and families to
teach in the remotest of areas all around the country.

This legislative measure seeks the provision of free on-site housing and/or
board and lodging for the above-illustrated public school teachers who are teaching
away from their homes and families, among others. The ultimate goals of this
legislative measure are to ensure that the remotest of areas all around the country
would not lack competent and dedicated public school teachers and to ensure that
said areas are not the “last choice” of existing and/or aspiring public school teachers.

This legislative measure is a counterpart of House Bill No. 7154 of 1-Ang
Edukasyon Partylist Representative Salvador B. Belaro Jr.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this legislative measure is

i
GRACE POE

oY

earnestly sought.



15
16
v7

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) we

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
Second Regular Session ) 18 ay 10.92:17
SENATE RN
s.No.__1799_

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF FREE ON-SITE LIVING QUARTERS FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

Section 1. - Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Free On-Site Living
Quarters for Public School Teachers Act of 2018”.

Sec. 2 - Declaration of Policy — It is hereby the declared policy of the State to
ensure the accessibility and affordability of quality education to all Filipinos.

The State duly recognizes the distinct situation of public school teachers who
are teaching away from their homes and their families.

It is the objective of the State to ensure availability of competent and
dedicated public school teachers in the remotest of areas in the country with the
least burden and hardship on the part of said public school teachers.

Sec. 3 - Covered Public School Teachers — This Act shall apply to the public
school teachers who are teaching in public schools far away from their respective
homes and families and are forced, or have opted, to live in said areas where the
schools they teach at are located.

There shall be no distinction if the afore-mentioned public school teachers are
new hires or transferees.

Sec. 4 - Provision of Free On-Site Living Quarters — The Department of
Education (DepEd) shall, free of charge, provide livable and humane living quarters



10
1
12
13
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
2a
22
23
24
25
26

at the nearest possible location to the public schools where the covered public
school teachers in Section 3 of this Act are teaching.

Existing benefits and allowances already granted by law, rules, regulations
and issuances to the covered public school teachers in this Act shall not be
diminished, withdrawn or removed.

Sec. 5 — Funding - The funding necessary for the successful implementation
of this Act shall be sourced from the existing funds of the DepEd and shall later on
be specifically allocated in the annual budget of the DepEd. In addition, reasonable
and sufficient additional funding shall be sourced from the Special Education Fund
(SEF) arising from the real property tax collected by concerned Local Government
Units (LGUs) where the living quarters shall be constructed and/or located.

Sec. 6 — Implementing Rules and Regulations — The DepEd, in consultation
with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget Management
(DBM), shall formulate and promulgate the necessary implementing rules and
regulations for the successful implementation of this Act not later than ninety (90)
days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 7 - Separability Clause — If for any reason any section or provision of this
Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections and provisions
thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 8 — Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules or regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9 - Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days upon
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.