Congress OKs doubling teachers’ supply allowance

MANILA, Philippines — Both chambers of Congress have approved the increased supply allowance for about 800,000 public school teachers nationwide, doubling it to P10,000 from P5,000.

Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said the lower legislative chamber approved on third and final reading earlier this month House Bill 9682 (Teaching Supplies Allowance Act), which the Senate passed in May this year through Senate Bill 1964.

From the annual P5,000 allowance for public elementary and secondary teachers, the House-approved bill will raise it to P7,500 for school year 2024-2025 and P10,000 later.

The higher allowance will be included in the outlay of the Department of Education (DepEd) under the annual General Appropriations Act.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said this is in recognition of the “selfless service of our educators” and to “advance the welfare of public school teachers.”

The allowance can be used to acquire tangible or intangible teaching supplies and materials, pay incidental expenses and implement various learning delivery modes.

HB 9682 consolidated 17 measures, including those authored by Villafuerte (HB 1849) and other Bicolano lawmakers such as Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata.

First-term Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (Bicol Saro party-list) co-authored the consolidated bill.

The Bicolano lawmakers noted that the education sector severely suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the closure of schools, students and teachers were forced to resort to alternative learning methods to ensure continuity of learners’ education,” they said.

“This predicament has compelled our teachers, especially those in public basic education, to shoulder additional expenses for internet connectivity, electronic gadgets, and other necessary materials, among other concerns,” they added.

The lawmakers recalled that Joint Circular 2, issued by DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management in 2021, only covered an allowance for a limited duration for teachers enduring the continued effects of the pandemic.