By Dang Samson Garcia
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is set to file a bill that aims to update the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.
The proposed measure will grant a special hardship allowance to mobile teachers, including Alternative Learning System mentors.
Gatchalian also seeks to protect teachers from out-of-pocket expenses and non-teaching tasks. The bill will contain provisions for teachers’ basic rights and longevity pay.
“Napapanahon na upang tiyakin nating tumutugon ang Magna Carta sa mga pangangailangan at hamong kinakaharap ng ating mga guro. Nakatakda tayong maghain ng panukalang batas na mag-aamyenda sa Magna Carta, at magpapanukala tayo ng mga bagong probisyong siguradong magtataguyod sa kapakanan ng ating mga guro,” the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education said.
Gatchalian pointed out that it has been 57 years since the Magna Carta for Teachers was passed, yet some of its provisions have not been fully realized.
One such provision is Section 22, which entitles public school teachers to a free annual physical examination.
While the Department of Education has provided some monetary medical assistance since 2019, there is still no program for the annual check-up of teachers as mandated by the Magna Carta, the senator said.
Another concern is Section 26 of the law, which stipulates that a retiring teacher should be promoted one rank higher, and the salary of that rank should be the basis for calculating retirement benefits.
However, the current method of computation used by the Government Service Insurance System relies on the average monthly compensation that the employee received during the last 36 months of service prior to retirement.
