Public school teachers and several other school personnel will receive a higher annual allowance of P10,000 starting next school year, according to Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte. This increase is not just limited to public school teachers but also extends to vocational instructors, librarians, guidance counselors, and teachers in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and community learning centers.

Rep. Villafuerte, a co-author of the recently passed Republic Act 11997, also known as the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act,” shared that this allowance will be tax-free. Beneficiaries won’t need to submit official receipts (ORs) as proof of their purchases, simplifying the process. This law aims to support educators in purchasing teaching supplies and materials, covering incidental expenses, and implementing various learning delivery methods.

Villafuerte also praised Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara for the swift approval of the law’s implementing rules. These rules clarify who is eligible for the allowance and how it will be distributed.

The new rules specify that public school teachers who do not have teaching loads and are assigned non-teaching roles will not receive the allowance. This also applies to those on indefinite sick leave, study leave, or scholarship, as well as those no longer in service at the start of the school year.

However, teachers who gain teaching loads during the school year or are set to retire will still be entitled to a pro-rated allowance. Additionally, school heads or head teachers without initial teaching loads but who take on teaching hours due to the absence of other teachers will also receive a pro-rated allowance.

This increase in allowance is seen as a significant support for educators who often spend their own money on classroom needs. The new law reflects a growing recognition of the essential role that teachers and school staff play in the education system, ensuring they are better equipped to fulfill their duties.