Following the Senate’s third and final reading approval of the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act (Senate Bill No. 1964),” Senator Win Gatchalian pressed that it is high time to institutionalize the grant of a teaching allowance to all public school teachers.
The measure, which Gatchalian co-authored, seeks the grant of a teaching allowance for the purchase of tangible or intangible teaching supplies and materials, the payment of other incidental expenses, and the implementation or conduct of various learning delivery modalities (LDMs) recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd).
For School Year 2023-2024, the teaching supplies allowance shall amount to P7,500 per teacher. The amount will increase to P10,000 per teacher for SY 2024-2025 and thereafter.
Gatchalian pointed out that since the Senate already passed similar measures during the 17th and 18th Congresses, the enactment of this measure into law should be prioritized under the 19th Congress. The lawmaker added that while congressional initiatives were able to provide for the grant of a cash allowance for teaching supplies and materials under the national budget, institutionalizing the grant would provide added security for public school teachers.
The senator also pointed out that public school teachers tend to shell out their own money to purchase teaching supplies and materials, a challenge aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic when schools had to shift to distance learning.
Gatchalian added that since schools could shift to the implementation of blended learning as El Niño and other weather disturbances loom, the grant of a teaching supplies allowance would help teachers ensure learning continuity.
“Napapanahon na para isabatas natin ang pagkakaroon ng cash allowance sa ating mga guro. Mahalagang ipaabot natin sa ating mga guro ang lahat ng maaaring tulong lalo na’t sila ang susi sa patuloy na edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
