A group of teachers on Wednesday called for a P15,000 teaching expense allowance to cover distance learning costs this school year.
While it welcomes the Senate’s passing on second reading of the bill seeking to increase the teaching supplies allowance in three tranches from the current P3,500 to P10,000 on the third year, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines is lobbying to increase the benefit to P15,000 to “cover the new and higher expenses” that they incur under distance learning.
On Tuesday, the Senate plenary approved on second reading SB 1092 which plans to increase the teaching supplies allowance to P5,000 in the first year; P7,500 in year 2; and P10,000 in the final year.
“We thank our lawmakers for recognizing this very urgent need of our teachers, however, increasing it to P15,000 immediately is what would really ease the teachers’ heavier financial burdens brought about by the requirements of distance learning,” said ACT Secretary-General Raymond Basilio.