Celebrity couple Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Rep. Lani Mercado thanked President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for signing the ‘Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act’ which Bong and Lani authored and sponsored.

Bong and Lani expressed their gratitude in a short clip released on June 4.

"Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa mahal na Pangulo at nalagdaan na rin itong ating Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act na ang makikinabang ay ang ating mga guro. Ito yung tinatawag na Chalk Allowance nila na dati ay tumatanggap sila ng P5,000 a year pero ngayon P10,000.

"Napakalaking tulong para sa ating mga guro. Kaya again, Thank you Mr. President Marcos Jr. at siyempre sa mga kasama natin sa Senado at Kongreso," said Bong.

Lani said: "Isa po ako sa principal authors sa Kongreso kasama si Congressman Bryan Revilla ng Agimat party-list at Cong. Jolo Revilla of 1st District of Cavite. Andyan rin ang Teachers partylist na kasama rin natin. So it's really a partnership. Sama-sama po ito para sa ating mga guro.

"Kaya sa mga guro, heto po yung pinangako namin. Heto na po at na-deliver na. Ito po si Sen. Bong Revilla na nagta-trabaho para sa inyo. Mabuhay po kayo," Bong ended.

This legislative measure aims to honor public school teachers' hard work and dedication by institutionalizing and increasing their annual teaching allowance. 

“I'm truly overwhelmed when I learned that my Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act has been approved by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. And I'm grateful, Sir, for your approval of my bill," the lawmaker expressed. 

"On top of this, the President has earlier signed my proposed  amendment to the Centenarian Law and disapproval of the 'No permit, no exam' policy," he added. 

"This new law is the fulfillment of our teachers' request for additional allowance for expenses for a more effective teaching,” Bong explained. 

“This is truly a monumental day for our dear teachers. They will already reap the sweet fruits of our labor since we started championing this 5 years ago,” the solon added. 

Provided in this statute, teaching allowance of public school teachers will be increased from P5,000 to P10,000 starting School Year 2025-2026. 

“At present. teachers are receiving a teaching allowance  called ‘chalk allowance’ of P5,000 annually. But due to skyrocketing prices, this chalk allowance is no longer enough. Oftentimes, the teacher spends his/her own money to buy these teaching materials. More than chalk and other classroom supplies for blended modality in teaching, the teachers now need internet connection, electricity, laptop, and others for a more effective teaching,” the senator explained. 

According to historical data, public school teachers have been receiving a meager allowance for the actual conduct of teaching. 

In 1988, they only received P100 allowance, P200 in 1989-1992, P300 in 1993-2007, P500 in 2008, P700 in 2009-2011, P1,000 in 2012-2014, P1,500 in 2015-2016, P2,500 in 2017, P3,500 in 2018-2020, and P5,000 in 2021 to present. 

“I'm thankful to all who took our side and pushed us to enable us to achieve our dream... To our fellow Senators, especially my co-authors, thank you very much. The same goes for my fellow lawmakers in the House of Representatives for joining us in our fight to pass this measure. 

"Ultimately, I thank the teachers who dreamed with us. This victory is yours! It's the victory of the whole education sector!” Revilla said in gratitude. 

“This is just one of several steps in empowering the teachers by way of laws that will benefit them, and they hold the important task of educating our youth,” Bong also said.