The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Tuesday, Nov. 29, approved two bills that would strengthen students’ access to a creative arts track in secondary school and would improve the welfare of public school teachers through the creation of new teaching positions with higher salary grade assignments.

The House panel, chaired by Pasig City Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo, gave its nod on the substitute bills for House Bill (HB) No. 931, consolidating HBs 1097, 3144, and 5075, or “An Act Establishing the Philippine High School for Creative Arts System and Appropriating Funds Therefor,” authored by Romulo, Reps. Luis Raymund ‘LRay’ Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur 2nd District, Sittie Aminah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte 2nd District, and Paolo Duterte of Davao City 1st District.

It also approved the substitute bill for HB 1580 and 3554, or “An Act Institutionalizing the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers,” introduced by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog Party-list and Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto of Batangas 6th District.

During the deliberations, Romulo revealed that the measure creating a Philippine High School for Creative Arts System was already approved in the 18th Congress because it fulfills the K-12 academic track for creative arts and design.

“We endeavor to ensure that this track should now be enhanced simply because we have many talented Filipinos. We are sure we are better in singing, in acting, than many other nationalities. So, we want to ensure the curriculum development for our creative arts and design is properly done,” he said.

He shared this after reporting that less than one percent to two percent of the total student population have enrolled in the arts and design courses currently being offered in schools.

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Although the curriculum for creative arts that deal with functional literacy would be crafted by the Department of Education (DepEd), the lawmaker explained that the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) will play a bigger role, too.

“The part of the curriculum with pertains to arts and design or to the creative arts will be crafted by the NCCA together with the other cultural agencies in the Philippines to ensure that we are able to keep up to date whatever talents we have to develop,” he said.

Romulo added that national artists, artists, and experts in particular fields in creative arts would be qualified to teach in DepEd schools “not only to be able to give their knowledge but also to serve as an inspiration.”

However, the lawmaker clarified that the bill does not provide the setting up of a new school.

“The proposed bill doesn’t require that. What we want is we want to improve the curriculum in the existing DepEd schools to improve the special program of the arts,” he furthered.

Meanwhile, Romualdez’s and Recto’s consolidated bill would aim to create new teaching positions with higher salary grades.

Under HB 1580, introduced by Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, four new positions—Teacher IV, Teacher V, Teacher, VI, and Teacher VII, would be formed.

The intention is “to boost professional development and career advancement among public school teachers.”

“The proposed legislation is in line with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) commitment to strengthen the right of teachers to professional advancement and the policy of the State to provide quality education at all levels to the Filipino learners,” the bill’s explanatory note said.

The proposal would provide a Teacher IV position with Salary Grade (SG) 14 (P32,321), Teacher V with SG 15 (P35,097), Teacher VI with SG 16 (P38,150), and Teacher VII with SG 17 (P41,508).