MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives and the Senate ratified a bicameral conference committee report on a bill that seeks to increase the supplies allowance of teachers to P7,500 per school year, which will rise further to P10,000.
During the two chambers’ separate sessions on Wednesday, the committee report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill (HB) No. 9682 and Senate Bill (SB) No. 1964 was ratified.
While the differences have not been specified, the third reading copies of HB No. 9682 and SB No. 1964 showed that both seek a higher teaching allowance for the purchase of supplies and materials, initially worth P7,500, and then P10,000.
HB No. 9682 sought that the P7,500 allowance be implemented for School Year 2024-2025 and the P10,000 allowance be started by School Year 2025-2026 and every academic year thereafter.
On the other hand, SB No. 1964 proposed that the P7,500 allowance start for School Year 2023-2024, while the P10,000 be given by School Year 2024-2025.
All the increases would not be subjected to income taxes, provided that the total amount of benefits received by the teachers do not exceed the threshold provided by the country’s tax code.
When the House approved the said bill on third reading last December, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the allowance increase for teachers is already long overdue, and is a testament to the House’ acknowledgement of teachers’ sacrifices and selfless service.
“This much-needed allowance for teachers is long overdue, and by passing this relevant bill, we hope to strengthen our commitment to the welfare of our public teachers. We are open to harmonizing the measure with the Senate as soon as possible,” Romualdez said.
“The selfless service of our educators is priceless, and we hope to address one of the many concerns they have through the provision of this supplies allowance, which will not be subject to income tax,” he added.
The Senate meanwhile approved their version last May.
This is not the first time, however, that such an increase was proposed.
Last November 2020, the Senate also passed on third reading a bill that would push the supplies allowance to P10,000, but the bill was not addressed due to time constraints.