Senate Office of the Recretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 DEC 15 P1:12 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE 1605 Senate Bill No.. Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR ALL TEACHNG PERSONNEL IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND STATE-RUN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Our public higher and technical education system thrives because of the dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance of its teaching personnel. They are expected to fulfill their mandates under increasingly challenging conditions such as rising living costs, limited resources, and growing workload, with little institutional support beyond their basic salaries. Recent developments such as the Department of Budget and Management's Budget Circular No. 16, s. 2024, which authorizes the grant of a P2,000 quarterly medical allowance to government employees under the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act, are a welcome step forward. However, the benefit remains subject to the availability of agency savings and is not permanently guaranteed. It also highlights the opportunity to build on this progress by providing more consistent and and comprehensive support, particularly for recurring needs such as food transportation, which are part of the everyday realities faced by our education frontliners. This bill seeks to fill that gap by providing full-time teaching personnel in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and state-run Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs) with regular and tangible support to supplement their daily needs. Specifically, it proposes a) a P3,000 quarterly allowance for groceries and transportation, and b) P2,000 quarterly medical allowance, with adjustments every three years to account for inflation, and tax exemptions in accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code.
These allowances are not just financial assistance but are part of a broader effort to affirm the State's constitutional mandate to prioritize education, not just through facilities or access, but also by recognizing and supporting the people who drive its delivery. By institutionalizing these benefits through legislation, we protect them from budget fluctuations and administrative discretion. This measure builds on the longstanding advocacy of this representation to uplift the welfare of education workers, as reflected in our budget interventions, committee work, and legislative priorities. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Thin JOEI, YILLANUEVAG
Senate Office of the Set erctary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 DEC 15 P1:12 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1605 Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR ALL TEACHING PERSONNEL IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND STATE-RUN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Additional
2 Allowances for SUC and TVI Personnel Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and to 5 take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It is also the 6 policy of the State to give the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure 7 that the teaching profession will attract and retain the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.
SEC. 3. Coverage. - The benefits under this Act shall apply to all full-
time teaching personnel in State Universities and Colleges and State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions.
SEC. 4. Additional Support. - The covered personnel shall be entitled
to the following additional benefits:
a) Additional Grocery and Transportation Allowance in the amount of Three Thousand Pesos (Php3,000.00) per quarter; and b) Medical Allowance in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (Php2,000.00) per quarter. The foregoing amounts shall be adjusted every three (3) years to account for inflation. These additional benefits shall not be taxable, unless the total amount of 8 benefits received by the covered personnel exceeds the threshold provided 9 under Section 32(B), Chapter VI of the National Internal Revenue Code of the 10 Philippines.
SEC. 5. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the State Universities and Colleges and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred
twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher 19 Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development 20 Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), state-run Technical and Vocational Institutions (TVIs) and other relevant stakeholders, in consultation with relevant government agencies and stakeholders, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of this 25 Act. Failure of the relevant government agencies to promulgate the IRR within the specified period shall subject the heads of these government agencies to administrative penalties under applicable civil service laws. Should the IRR contain provisions that are contrary to this Act, the heads of the government agencies responsible for such provision, when done in bad faith or with gross negligence, shall be held administratively liable.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
2 declared unconstitutional, the remainder hereof or any provisions not affected 3 thereby shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, rule, or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 9 circulation. Approved,