PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday signed into law the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” that doubled the annual teaching allowance of public school teachers from P5,000 to P10,000 starting in the school year 2025-2026.
The President, in a ceremony in Malacañang attended by lawmakers led by Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romuladez, signed Republic Act 11997 which consolidates Senate Bill No. 1964 and House Bill 9682.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte was not present.
Under the law, the higher annual allowance shall not be subjected to income tax.
Funding for the higher allowance shall be charged against the current budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).
In 1988, the annual teaching allowance stood at P100 which was raised to P5,000 in 2021.
There are 847,467 public school teachers as of the end of 2023.
Marcos said the signing of the bill into law is a “significant milestone” that honors the dedication of public school teachers and a step towards supporting the essential role of teachers in the education system by ensuring they have the resources needed to enhance the learning experience for students across the nation.
The doubling of the allowance was necessary to assist teachers with expenses related to teaching, especially blended learning such as internet, electricity and essential devices like laptops.
The President said the increase in annual teaching allowance, “while it might seem inconsequential to those who are already used to having a steady supply of basic materials for work, this amount makes an enormous difference for our beloved teachers and for the students.”
Marcos said there were instances when teachers shoulderd the additional expenses for school supplies that added to their financial burden. He said the financial burden of teachers prevents them from focusing on teaching which short-changes students.
“It must take an incredible amount of love to sacrifice what little you have for the sake of your students despite having financial worries of your own. With the passage of this law, we are easing some of the burdens that you carry each day,” he said, as he recognized the dedication of teachers to serve the country by teaching students the basic foundations to make them responsible and productive citizens in the future.
The President said the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” compliments the DepEd’s MATATAG agenda which enhances the Philippine basic education system by addressing the challenges to basic education — decongesting the basic education curriculum, building more classrooms and providing learning materials and internet connection, pursuing school-based feeding program, fostering safe spaces for learning, and implementing other programs aimed at supporting learners’ welfare.
LAW WELCOMED
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Teachers Dignity Coalition welcomed the new, with ACT national chair Vladimir Quetua saying: “This legislation is a testament of our collective action with the help of our genuine representative and voice in Congress.
“This is proof that we can achieve more victories through collective action and with the help of our true voice inside Congress,” he added.
Quetua said the new law is a welcome relief to teachers who have long been spending their own money on teaching supplies, including repairs and classroom enhancements.
“The increase in teaching supplies allowance is a big deal to us,” he added.
The measure was passed in the House in December 2023, with the approved provision of P7,500 for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 and P10,000 for SY 2025-2026 onwards.
The counterpart bill in the Senate was passed in May 2023.
Only P5,000, however, has been granted for SY 2024-2025 in the reconciled Senate Bill 1964 and House Bill 9682 of the Bicameral Conference Committee.
To recall, the annual chalk allowance has increased in recent years from P700 to P1,000 in 2012, to P1,500 in 2016, P2,500 in 2017 and P3,500 in 2018.
Quetua said the increased benefit will be used by teachers for the purchase of chalks, erasers, forms, and other classroom supplies and materials.
TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas said that while the P10,000 is still a small amount to meet all the needs of the teachers in order to fulfill teaching requirements, it is still a welcome development.
“Though the amount is still small for the needs of the teachers, still it would go a long way in addressing their teaching requirements,” Basas said.
“The amount of P10,000 is small since our needs for such items as laptop, internet connection, printer and others came from our own pocket. Still, this law is a testament to the collective efforts of teachers and lawmakers. It is a testament that our advocacy has achieved something,” Basas added.
SALARY HIKE
Quetua and Basas batted for a salary hike, adding their current salary is not really enough considering the increase in prices of basic commodities.
ACT said the entry-level pay of teachers should be raised to P50,000 from the current P25,000-plus.
“We continue to call for increases in salaries to make them decent,” Quetua added.
Basas said the existing salary scheme under the Salary Standardization Law of 1989 is inadequate to compensate public school teachers, especially those in lower positions.
“This inadequacy significantly contributes to the challenges facing our education system.
Therefore, implementing the proposed salary upgrade bills or a P15,000 across-the-board increase would substantially improve the living conditions and boost the morale of our teachers, in line with the principles set forth in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers,” the TDC chief said.
“We earnestly call on you, Mr. President, to honor your commitments and deliver on your promises,” Basas added.
Salaries of most of the low-ranking military and uniformed personnel was doubled in 2018, while government nurses’ entry-level pay had a P11,000 hike two years ago following the Supreme Court decision recognizing that the nurses’ position should be at Salary Grade 15, which currently has an equivalent of P35, 097.
On the other hand, the lowest teacher position — Teacher 1 — only provides a P25,439 gross monthly salary. — With Ashzel Hachero
