Bill seeks P2K supplies allowance for teachers

A bill providing P2,000 monthly allowance for supplies of public school teachers in the basic education sector has been filed in the House of Representatives.

Representatives Paolo Duterte of Davao City and Eric Yap of Benguet made the proposal under House Bill 3543 which also states that the teaching supplies allowance will be tax-free.

The lawmakers said the measure takes into account the rising prices of commodities, including teaching aid and other related materials.

"The salaries educators receive, particularly public school teachers, are not commensurate to the sacrifice they make in helping shape the future of the country’s youth. Teachers serve as the nation’s modern-day heroes—tirelessly providing at par education to the youth and honing them to become valuable members of the society," the lawmakers said in a statement.

"Adding to the rigors of teaching are expenses for supplies and materials  that public school teachers frequently  buy using their own money," they added.

The allowance covers the purchase of both tangible and intangible teaching supplies and materials for the implementation or conduct of various learning delivery modalities (LDMs) within the school year.

Likewise, the bill mandates the Secretary of the Department of Education to conduct a periodic review of the Teaching Supplies Allowance, taking into account the current prices of teaching supplies and materials, and, if warranted, recommend the necessary increase in the amount of the allowance.

The funding source for the said teaching supplies allowance will be charged against the annual budget of the DepEd as provided under the national budget.

Teachers, at present, receive an allowance for teaching expenses on a yearly basis and such allowance has no fixed amount. 

Under the 2020 national budget law, the teaching allowance of teachers was set at P3,500 per school year.

This amount was later increased to P5,000 per school year under the 2021 and 2022 national budget laws.

Limited face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic started last August 22 or more than two years since in-person classes were shut in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full in-person classes will resume on November 2.

“Public school teachers will have to cope with even more expenses to carry out their responsibilities once full face-to-face classes are implemented. Our proposal will help ease these financial woes,” Duterte added.

Duterte's sister and Vice President Sara Duterte also sits as Education chief.—LDF, GMA News