“A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” This is how revolutionary statesman Mustafa Kemal Atatürk illustrated the dedication and sacrifices of our teachers to meaningfully contribute to the better future of humankind.
Indeed, teaching is more than a profession – it is a vocation, an advocacy, and a covenant. because of these, we never ceased to give tribute to our teachers, express to them our gratitude and honor them for the selfless service and love they impart to the future leaders of this nation.
Subalit, Ginoong Pangulo, ang lahat ng pagpapasalamat na parangal na iginagawad natin sa ating mga guro ay mas mabibigyan ng kahulugan kung may konkreto at praktikal na suporta na ibinibigay sa kanila ang ating pamahalaan. Maraming aspeto ng edukasyon ang kailangan nating tugunan katulad ng sapat at makatwirang sweldo para sa ating mga guro, sapat na silid-aralan, angkop at wastong mga babasahin para sa ating mga mag-aaral.
Kasama din dito ang pagsasabatas ng takdang halaga para sa “cash allowance to teachers” at ang pagtataas ng halaga nito na ibinibigay natin sa mga guro sa pampublikong paaralan. Ito ay upang maging sapat ang nasabing allowance para sa pangangailangan ng ating mga guro at ng kanilang mga mag-aaral.
With the permission of our good sponsor, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., this representation will be honored to be a co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1964 under Committee Report no. 40, or the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act”. This will affirm my support to the advocacy of this measure as I did when I filed Senate Bill No. 677 or the “Teaching Supplies Allowance Act of 2022”.
Since its inception as the “chalk allowance”, the “cash allowance to teachers” as we call it now is being provided under special provisions in the annual General Appropriations Act of the Department of Education. This measure, when passed into law, will provide the legal basis for the grant of the “Teaching Supplies Allowance” and in effect, will institutionalize the same.
Nagsimula sa halagang P100 noong taong 1988, unti-unting tumaas ang allowance na ito hanggang sa naging P5,000 na ito sa kasalukuyan. Thank you to the advocates of education in this chamber for ensuring that this is included in the annual budget.
Mr. President, I would like to emphasize that the P5,000 being received by a teacher is for the entire school year already. This allowance is given in cash to teachers which they can use to purchase the teaching supplies needed to aid him or her in imparting the lessons to his or her students. This traditionally includes chalk, paper and other school supplies. With the recent developments in the modes of teaching, particularly the use of advanced information and communication technology (ICT) to conduct classes, the supplies include USB, load for internet connection, printing, and other related expenses.
This brings us to the fact the P5,000 will not be sufficient for the materials and services that the teachers need for their teaching supplies, thus the necessity to increase the allowance in the succeeding years until it reaches P10,000 per teacher for one (1) school year.
Pieces of legislation of this nature was approved in the 17th and 18th Congresses. We hope that this August body will support this measure anew, for the benefit of our teachers, of the minds that they mold, and the country that they build.
Thank you, Mr. President.