Angat Sweldo Para Sa Guro Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session 25 UL -3 76:09 SENATE S. No. 127 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam " A. Aquino IV AN ACT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND COMPENSATION FOR EDUCATORS IN BASIC EDUCATION EXPLANATORY NOTE Teachers are at the heart of our education system. They are mentors, leaders, and frontliners in shaping the future of our children and our country. Yet for decades, many of our public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, and under- supported. Despite existing salary increases under the Salary Standardization Law, the reality remains that many teachers struggle to make ends meet. Rising costs of living, classroom shortages, outdated materials, and large class sizes have all contributed to a situation where educators are expected to give more with less. Some teachers have even had to rely on loans just to cover daily expenses. These economic pressures affect not only their well-being, but also their ability to deliver quality education. This bill grants an additional compensation of P10,000 per month to all public school teachers and qualified non-teaching staff to be implemented in three tranches over three years. This additional support will be part of their basic pay for the purpose of computing retirement and other benefits. The measure also authorizes local school boards to supplement allowances through the Special Education Fund (SEF), without compromising funds allocated for classroom and school building construction. Additional provisions include a P1,000 annual medical allowance and a Magna Carta Bonus, which addresses unimplemented benefits originally outlined in the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670). This proposed law goes beyond raising salaries. It acknowledges the real challenges faced by teachers today. It provides concrete support to help them focus on what they do best: teaching, guiding, and shaping the minds of future generations. Teachers deserve more than words of appreciation. They deserve fair pay, meaningful support, and conditions that reflect the value of their work. This bill is one step toward that goal.

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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -3 P6:09 SENATE ------- S. No. 127 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND COMPENSATION FOR EDUCATORS IN BASIC EDUCATION 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 "Angat Sweldo Para Sa

Guro Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

4 promote the welfare and economic well-being of public school teachers and personnel 5 in basic education.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

7 a) Basic Education refers to early childhood, elementary, secondary, alternative learning system (ALS), and education for those with special needs; b) Locally Funded Teacher refers to a public school teacher who is hired and paid for, fully or partially, by a local government unit or any other local entity in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Department of Education (DepEd); c) Non-Teaching Personnel refer to officials and employees of the Department of Education who are not defined herein as public school teachers; and

d) Public School Teacher refers to a person engaged in: (1) actual classroom teaching in public basic education; (2) teaching in ALS; (3) teaching and non-teaching employment with the Philippine Science High School System; and (4) school-based supervisory, managerial, administrative, and/or technical functions in public basic education.

Sec. 4. Beneficiaries. - The Additional Support and Compensation provided for

7 in this Act shall cover the following: public school teachers, locally funded teachers, Philippine Science High School System teaching and non-teaching personnel, and non- teaching personnel of the DepEd, excluding those occupying positions from salary grade level 30, under the DepEd schedule of salaries, or Assistant Secretary and higher positions.

Sec. 5. Additional Compensation. - An amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (PHP

10,000.00) per month shall be granted to those mentioned in Section 4 of this Act as additional compensation to their existing salary and benefits: Provided, That said amount shall be paid in three (3) tranches, as follows: First Year - PHP 4,000.00 per month; Second Year - an additional PHP 3,000.00 per month; and 18 Third Year - another additional PHP 3,000.00 per month. 19 Provided further, That in succeeding years, said support compensation shall be continuously paid in full to the beneficiaries. Provided furthermore, That said additional compensation shall be considered as part of the basic salary for the purpose of computing retirement pays and bonuses that the beneficiaries under this Act are entitled to: Provided finally, That the support granted under this Act shall be without prejudice to future increases in the basic pay of the herein beneficiaries.

Sec. 6. Additional Support. - The following additional support is hereby

authorized:

a) Support in the form of allowances and other remuneration funded from local school board funds. - Any law, executive issuance, department order, local ordinance, and 3 the like, to the contrary notwithstanding, the Local School Boards, as defined in the 1991 Local Government Code, are hereby authorized to augment the existing allowances of herein beneficiaries to be sourced from the Special Education Fund 6 (SEF): Provided, That the implementation of this authority shall not in any way 7 prejudice the required budgetary allocation to address the school building and classroom shortage in the area. 9 b) Medical Allowance. - The herein beneficiaries shall receive an annual allowance for 10 medical check-up in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00). 11 c) Magna Carta Bonus. - In consideration of the many unenjoyed and unimplemented provisions of Republic At 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers of 1966, the DepEd is hereby authorized to grant an annual Magna Carta bonus to public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the DepEd. The maximum amount of the Magna Carta bonus shall be equivalent to the entitlement a teacher or a non-teaching personnel should have received under Republic Act No. 4670 but which has not been 17 realized in a given budget year. Congress shall appropriate the funding for this bonus upon the recommendation of the DepEd.

Sec. 7. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial

implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the DepEd. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the

effectivity of this Act the DepEd shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared

2 unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this 3 Act.

Sec. 10. Repeating Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or

other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,