Teachers get P5,000 chalk allowance

MANILA, Philippines — Public school teachers will receive their P5,000 teaching supplies allowance before classes open on Monday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said yesterday.

“The chalk allowance will be released very soon, in time for the opening of classes. That’s how it’s timed. When classes open, teachers already have an allowance for their needs. Whatever’s lacking in their classroom, they can augment with that,” Angara told reporters.

The education chief said now that President Marcos has signed the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, public school teachers can expect to receive P10,000 in teaching supplies allowance next school year.

“The cash allowance will be P5,000 this year. For the first time, it’s tax-free. Next year, under the law, it would be P10,000. So, every teacher will receive that,” Angara said.

Last month, Marcos signed the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which mandates a P10,000 teaching allowance for public school teachers starting School Year 2025-2026.

Aside from this, Angara said the Department of Education would be proposing the creation of additional teaching positions beyond Teacher I and Teacher III, as part of Marcos’ pledge during his State of the Nation Address.

The President said the government has allocated funds to implement the expanded career progression system for public school teachers, which shall allow teachers to advance ranks and no longer have “public school teachers retiring as a mere Teacher I,” referring to the lowest public school teacher rank.

“What we’re advocating is promotion based on merit, because that’s what many teachers are frustrated about. They’ve been teachers for so long and yet they have never been promoted,” Angara said.