Daiven Monforte

The Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara signs the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11997, also known as the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo” Act, on August 7, that will provide a teaching allowance for public school teachers.

Photo Courtesy of Department of Education/X/Senate of the Philippines.

The IRR is intended to cover expenses for teaching supplies, incidental costs, and various learning delivery methods. 

Teachers will receive PHP5,000 for the school year 2024-2025, and PHP10,000 in the following years.

According to the IRR, the teaching allowance shall be given to eligible DepEd public school teachers "not earlier than the official start of every school year, as stipulated in the annual issuance on the official School Calendar in accordance with the law."

Guidance counselors, librarians, and vocational instructors are among the teachers eligible to receive the allowance.

Teachers who have no teaching assignments, are on indefinite sick leave, study leave, or absent without official leave during the current school year, or are no longer employed as of the official start of classes, are not eligible for the teaching allowance.

During a press briefing, Angara stated that teachers are permitted to receive the allowance even without the IRR.

"Actually, as we speak, it should already be given. Even without the IRR, it can be distributed because the law states that it is executory even without implementing rules," he said.

Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. authored RA 11997, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 4, 2024.