Congress asked to review 48-year-old Magna Carta for Public School Teachers

A lawmaker has asked Congress to review the 48-year-old Magna Carta for Public School Teachers to determine if it is still adequate to meet the present concerns of educators.

In House Resolution 1665, Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan urged the House committee on basic education and culture to revisit the provisions of Republic Act 4670, particularly on teaching hours, allowances, compensation, and medical treatment in light of the cost of the changing needs of teachers and the loopholes in the law’s implementation.

“There is an urgent need to look into violations of the law so as to determine the legislative measures that should be undertaken to address the problems,” Tan said.

The law provides that teachers should only render more than six hours of teaching duties. They can exceed eight hours-long duty provided they will get 25 percent adjustment on their basic monthly pay.

RA 4670 also stipulates that teachers who have difficulty commuting to their workplaces should be granted a 25-percent increase in their basic salary.

The law also provides free medical examination for all public school teachers while those in the rural areas may seek medical examination in urban areas and will be provided travel expenses.

Upon retirement, teachers who have fulfilled the age and service requirements shall be given a one-range salary increase, which shall be the basis of the computation of the lump sum of the retirement pay and the monthly benefits.

At least five measures have been filed in the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress seeking to amend  RA 4670.  —Xianne Arcangel/KBK, GMA News