Cash Allowance for Public School Teachers SY 2024-2025

 In a significant move to support and honor the dedication of public school teachers, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) signed the 'Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act' into law on June 3, 2024. This landmark legislation, principally authored and sponsored by Senator Ramon 'Bong' Revilla, Jr., aims to institutionalize and increase the annual teaching allowance for public school teachers.

The Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act is designed to address the financial challenges faced by public school teachers, ensuring they receive adequate support for their teaching expenses. "This new law is the fulfillment of our teachers' request for additional allowance for expenses for a more effective teaching," Revilla explained. "This is truly a monumental day for our dear teachers. They will already reap the sweet fruits of our labor since we started championing this 5 years ago," he added.

Under the new statute, the teaching allowance for public school teachers will see a significant increase from P5,000 to P10,000 starting School Year 2025-2026. Currently, teachers receive an annual teaching allowance, commonly referred to as 'chalk allowance,' of P5,000 for the School Year 2024-2025. 

Historically, public school teachers have received modest allowances for their teaching expenses. The timeline of the allowance increments is as follows:

• 1988: P100
• 1989-1992: P200
• 1993-2007: P300
• 2008: P500
• 2009-2011: P700
• 2012-2014: P1,000
• 2015-2016: P1,500
• 2017: P2,500
• 2018-2020: P3,500
• 2021 to present: P5,000

The enactment of the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act marks a new chapter in supporting the nation's educators, ensuring they are well-equipped and adequately compensated for their indispensable contributions to the education sector.

Cash Allowance for Public School Teachers SY 2024-2025

How Much Do Teachers Receive in Teaching Allowance for SY 2024-2025?

According to Section 4 of RA 11997, known as the "Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act," all public school teachers shall be granted a Teaching Allowance in the total amount of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) per teacher for School Year 2024-2025, and Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) per teacher for School Year 2025-2026 and thereafter.

DEPED GUIDELINES ON THE GRANT OF CASH ALLOWANCE (formerly known as Chalk Allowance) TO TEACHERS

PURPOSE OF CASH ALLOWANCE

1. Purchase of teaching supplies and materials, tangible or intangible, for the implementation or conduct of various modes of learning delivery;

2. Internet and other communication expenses; and

3. Annual medical and physical examination expense.

SCOPE OF THE POLICY

1. The Cash Allowance shall be granted to all permanent and provisional teachers, including Alternative Learning System (ALS) Mobile Teachers and District ALS Coordinators (DALSCs), in all public elementary, junior, and senior high schools, and community learning centers, who are in sendee1 in DepEd for the current school year, and assigned with at least one teaching load. Teachers who are in service in DepEd as of the official first day of the school up to 30 calendar days after the start of the school year shall be entitled to the full amount of the Cash Allowance. Teachers whose assumption to duty is beyond 30 days after the official first day of school shall be entitled to the Cash Allowance on a pro-rata basis.

2. Public School Teachers are defined in RA No. 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, as All persons engaged in classroom teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis, including guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools, colleges, and universities operated by the government or its political subdivisions; but this shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists, and other school employees.

EXEMPTIONS

1. Public School Teachers who fall under the following circumstances shall not be entitled to the grant of Cash Allowance:

    a. Those with no teaching load and performing non-teaching functions, duties, and responsibilities within the current school year:

    b. Those who are on absence without leave (AWOL). indefinite sick leave of absence, maternity leave, or study leave within the current school year:

    c. Those who are found guilty of any offense in connection with their work and meted the penalty in the previous school year: and

    d. Those who are no longer in service as of the official start of the current school year.

2. Teachers in items l.a. and b. who resume duty and are assigned with at least one (1) teaching load within the current school year shall be entitled to the Cash Allowance on a pro-rata basis.

GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

1. The Cash Allowance shall be given to entitled public school teachers not earlier than the official start of every school year, as stipulated in the annual issuance on the official School Calendar, or as may be decided by the Secretary or his/her designated authority in cases of emergency situations.

2. Pro-rated rates: The criteria for the pro-rated payment of the Cash Allowance will be as follows:

3. The variables of the pro-rated amount will depend on the issuance of DepEd Order (DO) on school opening.

References: 

• https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2024/0604_revilla1.asp
• https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-signs-law-for-teachers-yearly-allowance/
• https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Issuances/2021/Joint-Circular/Certified-True-Copy-JC-on-Cash-Allowance.pdf