PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law on Monday, June 3, the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which will provide teachers with an annual teaching supply allowance of up to P10,000.

Under Republic Act No. 11997, public school instructors under the basic education curriculum would receive P5,000 in teaching allowance for the forthcoming School Year 2024–2025.

The teaching allowance will increase from P5,000 to P10,000 beginning in the School Year 2025-2026.

“Indeed, this new law institutionalizes the provision of an annual teaching allowance and gradually increases it from the current five thousand pesos to ten thousand pesos, which will not be subjected to income tax,” Marcos said during the ceremonial signing in Malacañang.

“And while it might seem inconsequential to those already used to have a steady supply of basic materials for work, this amount makes an enormous difference for our beloved teachers and the students,” he pointed out.

The Chief Executive said that teachers are the “unsung heroes of society.”

The signing also marked a milestone for Philippine education, he said, noting that since the start of his term, he has emphasized the need to bolster the education system with great urgency.