(MANILA BULLETIN)

The newly-signed "Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act" or Republic Act (RA) No.11997 will serve as public school teachers' best friend amid the prevailing high inflation, which impacts prices of basic goods. 

Thus, said Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, one of the co-authors of the new law that's poised to provide a bigger allowance to public school teachers. 

“This new law bumps up the allowance of some 800,000 public school teachers for their school supplies  to P10,000, in recognition of the invaluable contribution of our educators to nation-building,” Villafuerte said in a statement. 

This tax-free allowance is meant for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials for the implementation of various learning delivery modalities (LDMs). 

“RA No.11997 institutionalizes and increases the special allowance for teaching supplies given to public school teachers during the pandemic to cover for their extra expenses, such as Internet connectivity fees, for the blended learning modes that were resorted to during the Covid 19-driven mobility restrictions in place of face-to-face classes in schools,” said the Bicol solon. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-issued Joint Circular No.2 entitled teachers to each get a  maximum P5,000 cash allowance for the purchase of teaching materials and supplies as well as for the expenses they incur on internet connection, communications and their annual medical examination.  

However, Villafuerte said that the DepEd-DBM directive only covered an allowance for a limited duration for public school teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Hence, he said making this Covid-era allowance a permanent one, and with a provision in RA No.11997 for a steady increase in the amount over the succeeding school years “means added financial relief to public school teachers in the face of sticky inflation". 

The law directs the  DepEd Secretary to conduct a periodic review of this annual allowance, “taking into account the current prices of teaching supplies and materials, and, if warranted, recommend the necessary increase in the amount of the allowance" 

The higher allowance will be included in the budget under the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget. 

Villafuerte said the teachers’ allowance can be used for the purchase of tangible or intangible teaching supplies and materials, pay incidental expenses, and implement various learning delivery modes.