President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is poised to sign into law a bill that will significantly increase the teaching supplies allowance from P5,000 to P10,000, starting School Year (SY) 2025-2026. The ceremonial signing of the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” will take place on June 3, 2024, at the Malacañan Palace in Manila.
The impending approval was disclosed last Thursday night through an invitation sent by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro. The invitation was signed by PLLO Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza, confirming the event’s details.
“After a long-fought battle to increase the Teaching Supplies Allowance (or chalk allowance) of teachers, the ‘Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act’ is now a law, hiking the current P5,000 teaching supplies allowance to P10,000,” announced the ACT Teachers party-list in Filipino. “This law was first filed by the ACT Teachers Party-list in 2011 and has been championed for years before being officially passed into law.”
Teachers across the country have long advocated for an increase in the allowance, arguing that the current amount is insufficient to cover essential classroom supplies such as chalk, erasers, and forms. Many educators have resorted to using their funds to meet these needs.
The ACT Teachers’ party list has been at the forefront of this advocacy, pushing for legislative measures to address the issue. Their recent proposal in the House of Representatives, which was passed in December 2023, initially provided for an increase to P7,500 for SY 2024-2025, and then to P10,000 for SY 2025-2026 and beyond.
The Senate’s counterpart bill, which passed in May 2023, initially maintained the allowance at P5,000 for SY 2024-2025. The differences between the House and Senate versions were reconciled in the Bicameral Conference Committee, resulting in the final agreed-upon figures. The reconciled Senate Bill 1964 and House Bill 9682 stipulated the increased allowance, and the legislation was officially transmitted to the Office of the President on May 3, 2024.
The “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” represents a significant victory for educators, who have long sought recognition and support for the vital role they play in shaping the country’s future. The increased allowance aims to alleviate the financial burden on teachers, enabling them to procure necessary teaching materials without personal expense.
The ceremonial signing by President Marcos marks the culmination of over a decade of advocacy and legislative efforts, reflecting a commitment to improving the conditions and resources available to educators in the Philippines. As the law comes into effect, it is expected to enhance the quality of education by ensuring that teachers have the tools they need to effectively deliver instruction.