On-site living quarters, rent allowance mulled for teachers in remote areas

The construction of on-site living quarters and provision of housing allowance for teachers deployed in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas were among the proposals raised in a Senate hearing on Wednesday to address their accommodation and transportation woes.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing And Resettlement, led the discussion on bills for an appropriate housing program for teachers.

"Marami pong doon na natutulog sa classrooms at wala po talaga silang matirahan. The possibility of subsidizing their housing will not only alleviate their financial difficulties, it will also attract more teachers to enter the public service," Tolentino said.

The National Housing Authority proposed to craft a housing subsidy or allowance for the rental arrangement of teachers in last-mile schools.

"Instead of living quarters, we are considering a subsidy program that supports their housing needs... Subsidy na umupa ng bahay po kasi wala pa naman 'yung development and construction of permanent housing for them," said Agnes Agay, from the NHA's Corporate Planning Department.

On the other hand, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) maintained that constructing on-site living quarters on school grounds would establish more permanency.

"The living facilities should be integrated into the budget of DepEd so in that way it will be permanent, it will be maintained by DepEd (Department of Education) and it will not require resources from other agencies," Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said.

"This will solve everything—security, transportation of the teachers—because the living quarters will be constructed inside the campus of the DepEd schools," he added.

The DepEd welcomed both proposals but added that the availability of spaces on campus should also be considered in the proposed construction of living quarters for teachers.

"Basta wala pong issue ng lack of buildable space, at maski may buildable space sana po walang issue na baka mas magandang patayuan ito ng mga silid-aralan kasi baka limitado pa rin po 'yung buildable space na mayroon so imbes na living quarters ng mga guro, baka silid-aralan pa rin po ang kakayanin based on the projection on the enrollment," Education Undersecretary Tony Umali said.

In such cases, Del Rosario suggested constructing the living quarters in other available lots offered by the local government.

Tackled in the said Senate hearing were two bills filed by Senators Grace Poe and Bong Revilla seeking to provide free on-site living quarters and a housing program for teachers, respectively.

Meanwhile, there will be no face-to-face classes yet as the school year opens in the country on August 24. President Rodrigo Duterte previously said he will not allow physical classes to resume until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.

Senator Imee Marcos proposed to hold face-to-face classes in low-risk areas but Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said it is better to err on the side of caution. The Palace, meanwhile, said maybe Duterte can be convinced by Marcos. — RSJ, GMA News