MANILA, Philippines - Public schools teachers in the elementary and high school levels will soon get P2,000 medical allowance as additional incentive to augment their meager salary.
A-Teacher party-list Representatives Mariano Piamonte Jr. and Julieta Cortuna have filed House Bill 2407, which also proposes that the medical allowance for the teachers should be subject to regular adjustment every five years.
Piamonte said that the bill also proposes that the same privilege must also be availed of by the teachers in the alternative system of the Department of Education.
He said there is a need to grant medical allowances to public school teachers especially those living in the far-flung barangays of the country.
“Public school teachers in the countryside often brave rain or shine just to be present in their respective classes. They also have to walk mountains and hills aside from facing harsh and extreme weather conditions in their daily trip to work,†Cortuna said.
“These circumstances make public school teachers more vulnerable to different types of illnesses and consequently, medical expenses will bite into their meager income,†Cortuna added.
Piamonte also said that students would also benefit from the measure since they are the ones who will suffer if their teachers are sick.
“The medical allowance will be a great help for the teachers in case they need medical attention,†he said.
“Neglecting the need for medical allowance will also result in the neglect for the health of both teachers and their students,†Piamonte said.
Under the bill, the budget necessary for the implementation of the measure shall be included in the annual budget of the Department of Education, State Universities and Colleges.
The Department of Education, State Universities and Colleges shall issue their corresponding rules and regulation for the implementation of the proposed measure.