The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Monday, March 20, approved the unnumbered substitute bill, subject to style and amendments, that would institutionalize the career progression system for public school teachers.

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) both expressed support for the substitute bill that consolidated House Bills (HBs) 1580 and 3554, Institutionalizing the career progression system for public school teachers, by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list and Ralph Recto of Batangas 6th District.

The approval was made after Pasig City Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo, the committee’s chair, explained that ACT Teachers’ Party-list Rep. France Castro suggested giving DepEd the “leeway” in the career progression of head teachers, especially in secondary schools.

“Ang proposal ni Honorable Castro is alisin na natin ‘yun sentence na (The proposal of Honorable Castro is to remove the sentence that) no new item or position under the current career progression for incumbent head shall be created thereafter,” the lawmaker said.

Addressing DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas, he asked if it is “acceptable” for the agency what Castro was proposing.

“Flexibility ninyo po ito just in case kailanganin pa ng head teachers at least may flexibility ang DepEd (This is for your flexibility just in case you need head teachers at least DepEd has flexibility),” Romulo added.

Bringas agreed because the retention of the provision mentioned by Castro and Romulo would have mandated the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to create a budget line for the new positions anymore.

Budget was the gist of the issue that delayed the approval of the said bill during an earlier hearing of the same committee.

During the hearing on March 6, the creation of new teaching positions in the proposed measure—Teacher IV, V, VI, and VII with SGs 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively—raised issues on the “domino effect” it would create on administrative positions with higher salary grades.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, the head of the House Committee on Ways and Means, also expressed support for the bill “even on a standalone basis.”

He cited how both his parents were teachers “in their entire life until they died.”

The consolidated bills would ensure that public school teachers can remain teaching while going up their SG levels. The proposed measure said this would be helpful in retaining teachers, while also providing an opportunity for career growth to those who want to take on administrative functions.

In Romualdez’s and Acidre’s bill’s explanatory note, they noted that the proposed measure would “boost professional development and career advancement among public school teachers.”

They also said that the proposed measure is “in line” with the DepEd’s “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.”

Meanwhile, the House panel also approved the consolidation of HB 6881 with the earlier approved substitute bill on HBs 3721, 3847, and 4240, or the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program by Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Eduardo Rama Jr.

It also okayed the consolidation of HB 1585 with the substitute bill on HBs 928, 1723, and 5589, or the E-GASTPE (Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education) Bills, by both Romualdez and Acidre.