HOUSE APPROVES UP TO 10K INCREASE IN TEACHERS’ SUPPLIES ALLOWANCE

CTTO

THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to increase the annual teaching supplies allowance of public school teachers.

House Bill 9682 or the proposed Teaching Supplies Allowance Act garnered 247 affirmative votes during the plenary session on Tuesday.

Under the bill, the yearly teaching allowance will increase from the current P5,000 to P7,500 per teacher for school year 2024-2025, and P10,000 per teacher in the succeeding school years.

According to Speaker Martin Romualdez, this much-needed allowance for teachers is long overdue, adding that the passage of this relevant bill would strengthen the House’s commitment to the welfare of the public school teachers.

“The selfless service of our educators is priceless, and we hope to address one of the many concerns they have through the provision of this supplies allowance, which will not be subject to income tax,” Romualdez said.

Under Section 4 of HB 9682, the allowance can be used to buy tangible or intangible teaching supplies and materials, pay incidental expenses and implement or conduct various learning delivery modalities.

The amount necessary for implementing the proposed law will be included in the Department of Education (DepEd) budget in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).