Angara: P5,000 chalk allowance to be distributed on class opening

The P5,000 “chalk allowance” or teaching allowance for public school teachers would be distributed on Monday, July 29, in time for the opening of classes, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Tuesday.

Angara, who was at the Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales in Mandaluyong City, said the P5,000 cash allowance would be tax-free.

“‘Yung cash allowance will be P5,000 this year. For the first time, it’s tax-free. Next year, under the law, it will be P10,000. Every teacher will receive that,” the new Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary said.

Angara added that this additional benefit would help teachers acquire teaching equipment.

“‘Yung chalk allowance will be released very soon, in time for opening [of classes]. ‘Yun talaga ang timing noon eh—pagkabukas ng klase, may allowance na si teacher para ‘yung pangangailangan, ‘yung pagkukulang sa kanyang classroom, pwede niyang punan agad agad,” explained the DepEd Secretary.

(The chalk allowance will be released very soon, in time for the opening of classes. That's the timing—when the classes start, the teachers will get an allowance for what they need and buy everything their classroom lacks.)

Last month, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. signed the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which supports public school teachers by increasing their allowances.

This allowance would alleviate the financial burdens of purchasing teaching supplies and materials, thus enabling teachers to focus more on their crucial education roles and less on out-of-pocket expenses.

The law authorizes an increase in the annual teaching allowance for public school teachers from P5,000 to P10,000 beginning School Year 2025-2026. — DVM, GMA Integrated News