Pinuno party-list Rep. Howard Guintu filed a bill which seeks to provide free housing for public school teachers.
House Bill No. 1041, otherwise known as the “Free On-Site Living Quarters for Public School Teachers Act,” aims to lessen the burden of public school teachers who spend long hours of travel to their designated schools in far-flung areas.
“This bill will address the problems of our public school teachers who need to travel though mountainous regions for long hours just to reach their designated schools,” he said.
Guintu added that with rising fuel costs, it would be practical for the government to provide housing for teachers to help them lessen their transportation costs and allow them to provide more to their families.
Under the Salary Standardization Law, those who hold Teacher 1 positions only earn P25,349 as monthly salary.
The bill directs the Department of Education to, free of charge, provide livable and humane living quarters at the nearest possible location to the public schools.
The bill also provides that existing benefits and allowances given to public school teachers shall not be removed.
“Providing a safe and livable environment for our public school teachers will help improve their employment and working conditions,” Guintu said