ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro welcomed the passage of a substitute bill that consolidates different proposals that seek to protect teachers and instructors from wrongful accusations of child abuse.

“It is good that the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Cong. Roman Romulo already approved the measure considering that we have been filing earlier versions of this bill since the 16th Congress,” Castro said.

“So, when I chaired the technical working group, we made sure that when returned to the mother committee it will speedily be passed,” she added.

Castro said that they consolidated House Bills 346, 549, and 6940, which seek to shield teachers from cases when they enforce basic discipline on students.

“It is true that child protection is indispensable, but teacher protection is also a must,” the lawmaker stressed.

The bill seeks to amend Republic Act 7610, or the Child Abuse Law, insofar as any act committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the disciplinary rules and procedure issued by the Department of Education shall not be deemed as child abuse.

“We hope that our colleagues in the Senate can also expedite their version so that this bill will finally become a law and serve as a layer of protection for our teachers,” the lawmaker said.