Public school teachers' "chalk allowance" to gradually increase from P5,000 to P7,500 for SY 2023-2024; P10,000 for SY 2024-2025

On its third and final reading, the Senate on Monday approved a bill that would raise the annual supply allowance for teachers in all public schools.

The Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, or Senate Bill No. 1964, was approved by the 22 senators present on Monday.

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"The current cash allowance also includes a P500 allocation for medical examination, if we deduct that from the purchase of teaching materials and equipment, it will only drop to P22 pesos per day. A box of chalk costs P68, a ream of bond paper costs P120, not including the internet load,” said Sen. Bong Revilla, sponsor of the bill.

The law calls for a progressive rise in the teaching allowance from the current P5,000 to P7,500 for the 2023–2024 school year, and P10,000 per teacher for the following school years.

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Revilla highlighted that since the existing allowance given to public school teachers is only P5,000 annually, or about P24 a day, they are required to pay money out of their own pockets to purchase supplies for the real conduct of teaching.

“With the passage on third reading of Senate Bill No. 1964 or the 'Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act', we are giving our dear teachers an assurance that they will always have the Senate as their ally in advocating, pushing and fighting for their welfare,” he added.

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Revilla also urged the House of Representatives to take the measure's adoption into consideration.

“I appeal to our colleagues in the lower house to make this measure their priority. This was already passed by the Senate during the 17th and 18th Congresses. It is not for me or for all of you. This is for our hard-working teachers, the shapers of our nation, who have dedicated their lives to nurture our children,” Revilla said.

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It was also stated that the additional benefits would not be taxed.

The bill's co-sponsor, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, applauded the legislation's success.

"Today, it is my fervent hope that Filipino teachers will be even more inspired to scale to greater heights to conquer more extraordinary feats knowing that their Senate has got their backs,” Dela Rosa said.

Source/s: ABS-CBN News, GMA News