Legarda: 1K Increase in Teachers’ Allowance Under 2018 Budget

Senator Loren Legarda today said that all public school teachers will receive additional Php1,000 in their cash or chalk allowance this year.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said that additional Php770 Million was allocated in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget to increase the annual chalk allowance of public school teachers from Php2,500 to Php3,500 per teacher.

“This is good news for our teachers because additional allowance means they can purchase more of what they need to be more effective in teaching. Now they have additional Php1,000 to purchase classroom supplies like chalk, markers, paper, erasers and other materials,” said Legarda.

“We wanted to give them more but this is what the 2018 budget can provide as of now. Hopefully, for the 2019 budget, we will be able to give Php5,000 for annual chalk allowance per teacher. The DepEd should already include the necessary amount in their proposed budget,” she added.

In 2015, chalk allowance increased from Php1,000 to Php1,500 per teacher. It was raised to Php2,500 under the 2017 national budget. In the 2018 budget, it is now Php3,500.

Legarda also said she hopes that the allowance of teachers will be released early enough for them to actually purchase their supplies.

“The provision of chalk allowance to our teachers is an important concern and it is equally important to ensure that it is given to our teachers on time, before the start of the school year. If government agencies could easily provide office equipment to their staff, we should do the same for our teachers who only want the best for their students,” Legarda concluded.