Lawmakers agree on cash aid for teachers

MANILA, Philippines — Senators and House representatives met in bicameral conference on Friday to reconcile their versions of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) and agreed to provide a one-time cash aid to teachers, nonteaching personnel as well as part-time faculty members of state universities and colleges, who did not receive government aid in the previous Bayanihan bill.

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives had not agreed on the final amount to be granted but the bicameral committee agreed to have a provision in the reconciled version of Bayanihan 2, according to information from the office of Sen. Sonny Angara.

The House versions proposes to allocate P300 million for subsidies and allowances of affected teaching and nonteaching personnel, including part-time faculty, in public and private elementary, secondary, and tertiary education institutions. Also included are part-time faculty in SUCs.

The Senate version has a similar provision for a one-time cash assistance for the teaching and nonteaching personnel.

While there was no amount finalized yet, the bill proposed P15 billion for the cash for work program, the hiring of personnel necessary in the COVID-19 response, and the emergency subsidy to workers in critically-impacted sectors and industries.

It also proposes to allocate P17 billion for unemployment or involuntary separation assistance for displaced workers and employees.