THREE lawmakers batted for a measure that will provide allowance for the medical examination and treatment of public school teachers.

House Bill 205 or the proposed Medical Examination and Treatment Allowance for Public School Teachers Act was filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro, Gabriela Women ‘s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel.

The lawmakers said that the Covid19 pandemic highlighted two of the most important yet perpetually unfunded and unimplemented provisions of Republic Act 4670 or The Magna Carta For Public School Teachers — medical examination and treatment.

Section 22 states that compulsory medical examination shall be provided free of charge for all teachers before they take up teaching, and shall be repeated not less than once a year during the teacher’s professional life.

They also cited Section 23 or the provision on Compensation from Injuries which states that teachers shall be protected against the consequences of employment injuries in accordance with existing laws.

“Simply put, these provisions emphasize the right of public school teachers to be taken care of by their employer—the government—in both body and mind,” the lawmakers said in their explanatory note.

They added that teachers often have no choice but to spend their own money for tests not covered by the annual physical examination.

The measure mandates the government to give teachers P10,000, which is an estimate of the amount sufficient to cover the mandated physical and mental examinations and tests under pertinent resolutions, orders and other issuances of the Civil Service Commission, among others.