Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s bill that aims to increase the annual teaching supplies allowance of the teachers is expected to be implemented in the School Year 2024-2025.
The bill passed in the third and final reading of the House in December last year, which will double the amount of teaching supplies allowance for public school teachers.
With Rep. Pulong as the main author of the bill, the annual teaching supplies allowance is increased from the current P5,000 to P10,000.
In the first year of its implementation in School Year 2024-2025, the teaching supplies allowance will be P7,500, and starting School Year 2025-2026, they will be given an allowance of P10,000.
The same is stated in the bill regarding the increase in the teaching supplies allowance that was approved by the Senate.
The House and Senate bills state that the allowance will not be subject to income tax.
“Ang kailangan na lamang ay mapagkasundo ang mga probisyon ng mga bill ng Kamara at Senado para ito ay maging pinal na. Pagkatapos ng mga kaukulang proseso ay ipapadala na ito sa Malacañang para maisabatas na,” Duterte said.
Duterte said in previous Congresses that various bills were previously filed to increase the teaching supplies allowance of public school teachers.
He also said that teachers who decided to stay in public schools to teach instead of looking for a big income abroad should have been granted an extra teaching supplies allowance long ago.
Rep. Pulong mentioned before to consider teachers as new heroes as their dedication to work and the sacrifices they make to deliver knowledge and shape the minds of young people are unparalleled.
He also said that stories about public school teachers taking out of their own pockets to buy teaching supplies are not new.
“Bukod sa chalk, ballpen at lapis, marami pa silang mga teaching aids na kailangan para makapagturo nang maayos. Kailangan rin nila ang matinong internet connection sa panahon ngayon na tinatawag na digital age,” Duterte said.
