Free on-site living quarters for public school teachers pressed

A teacher  at the Longos Elementary School in Alaminos City, Pangasinan province holds in-person classesin this file photo.  (Photos courtesy of Alaminos Public Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — A proposal to provide public school teachers with free on-site living quarters is being pushed by a party-list group, to reduce teachers’ burden in terms of traveling for hours between their workplaces and home.

House Bill No. 1041 filed by Pinuno party-list Rep. Howard Guintu wants the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide a livable and free space for teachers to reside inside campuses — without prejudice to the benefits and allowances they receive.

Guintu said the bill will address problems encountered by teachers, especially those who live and teach in far-flung areas.

“This bill will address the problems of our public school teachers who need to travel through mountainous regions for long hours just to teach their designated schools,” Guintu said.

Should the bill be enacted, the budget will be secured from DepEd’s existing funds allocated in the annual appropriations, and the special education fund from the real property tax collected by local government units.

This, Guintu said in his bill, would ensure that quality education is provided to Filipinos as teachers would be better equipped if some of their problems can be alleviated.

“It is hereby the declared policy of the State to ensure the accessibility and affordability of quality education to all Filipinos. The State duly recognizes the distinct situation of public school teachers who are teaching away from their homes and their families,” he said in the proposed measure.

“It is the objective of the State to ensure availability of competent and dedicated public school teachers in the remotest of areas in the country with the least burden and hardship on the part of said public school teachers,” he added.

Guintu said there would be no distinction if teachers are new hires or transferees.

During the 18th Congress, Senator Sonny Angara pushed for a similar legislation, noting that teachers face extreme difficulty in traveling from their homes to the schools, especially with transport limitations and restrictions due to COVID-19 back then. (With reports from Andy Hoo, trainee)

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