THE SENATE on Monday passed on third and final reading a measure that seeks to increase the yearly supplies allowance of teachers in all public schools.

Receiving 22 unanimous votes, Senate Bill 1964 or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act inches towards its ratification and enrolment for the President’s signature.

Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., sponsor of the bill, said that public school teachers are overworked and yet underpaid, receiving only P5,000 for supplies allowance which is equivalent to only P24 per day.

“The current cash allowance also includes a P500 allocation for medical examination, if we deduct that from the purchase of teaching materials and equipment, it will only drop to P22 per day. A box of chalk costs P68, a ream of bond paper costs P120, not including the internet load,” Revilla said in his sponsorship speech.

Under the measure, the teaching allowance will gradually increase from P5,000 to P7,500 for school year 2023 – 2024 and P10,000 per teacher in the succeeding school years.

Revilla said the government only needs to allocate an additional P2 billion when the amount reaches P7,500 and P4.5 billion when it reaches P10,000 in the year 2025.

Revilla said that this very little support from the government is a huge help to every teacher, especially to those who intend to stay in the country and do not want to exchange their profession for dollars abroad.

The lawmaker also appealed to the House of Representatives to consider the approval of its own version of the measure.