The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) acknowledges the Senates ratification of the bicameral conference committee agreement on the proposal to grant a P10, 000 annual teaching allowance for public school teachers. Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, took the floor and reported the conferees agreement, which the body subsequently approved. Revilla also recognized the efforts made by his colleagues in the Senate, the House counterparts, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the groups Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC), and Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA).

The bill, which shall be known as Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act sets the school year 2025-2026 as the beginning of the implementation of the P10,000 teaching allowance per teacher, which should also be tax-free.

Currently, teachers receive a similar allowance (previously called chalk allowance), a meager incentive that, through the years, slowly reached P3,500 in 2020, where it was also called Cash Allowance since teachers were not using chalk at the time but were purchasing teaching materials or a digital connection. And since 2021, the allowance has also covered internet and communication expenses, as well as the supposedly free annual medical examination of teachers, for a total of P5,000.

Following its approval in both houses, the proposal will be submitted to Malacanang for the president’s signature to finally become law. The TDC says that they will closely monitor this situation and won’t allow another veto to occur.

Benjo Basas, TDC National Chairperson, who was present in the plenary yesterday, said, Totoong maliit lamang ito, nasa P1,000 per month lang sa buong school year. Gayunman, natutuwa pa rin kami dahil produkto rin ito ng sama-samang pakikilahok ng mga guro at ng pakikipagtulungan ng mga mambabatas. Kaya kahit gaano man ito kaliit ay dapat pa ring kilalanin at pasalamatan. At siyempre babantayan namin dahil baka i-veto uli ng pangulo.

It can be recalled that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., vetoed the bill that seeks tax exemption for teachers duty honorarium in 2022. #

For details:
Benjo Basas, TDC Chair
09273356375