SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian believes that it is time to institutionalize the grant of a teaching allowance to all public school teachers.

The Senate has approved on third and final reading the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” or Senate Bill 1964 which seeks to grant teachers allowance for teaching supplies and materials.

“Napapanahon na para isabatas natin ang pagkakaroon ng cash allowance sa ating mga guro. Mahalagang ipaabot natin sa ating mga guro ang lahat ng maaaring tulong lalo na’t sila ang susi sa patuloy na edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education said.

For School Year 2023-2024, the teaching supplies allowance shall be P7,500 per teacher.

The amount will increase to P10,000 for SY 2024-2025.

Gatchalian said that since the Senate has passed similar measures in the 17th and 18th Congresses, the enactment of the bill into law should be prioritized under the 19th Congress.

Institutionalizing the grant would provide added security for public school teachers, he added, pointing out that teachers
tend to shell out their own money to purchase teaching supplies and materials.

Gatchalian added that since schools could shift to blended learning because of El Niño, the grant of a teaching supplies allowance would help teachers ensure learning continuity.