House probe sought on teachers spending own money for Balik Eskwela

A congressional inquiry on public school teachers' use of their personal money for Brigada Eskwela or preparations for school opening has been proposed in the House of Representatives.

House Assistant Minority Leader Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list, Akbayan Party-list Representatives Percival "Perci" Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Representatives Kaka Bag-ao, made the call under House Resolution 1102.

Inadequate government funding for Brigada Eskwela and other school readiness activities, the congressmen said, have forced teachers to incur out-of-pocket expenses.

"Despite existing DepEd (Department of Education) memoranda reports have documented instances of school teachers spending personal funds for classroom repairs, facility maintenance, sanitation improvements, and other Brigada Eskwela activities in preparation for the opening of classes," Diokno said.

"There is a need, therefore, for a congressional inquiry to determine whether existing appropriations, funding mechanisms, and accountability systems are sufficient to ensure that public schools are adequately prepared for the opening of classes without requiring teachers to shoulder costs that properly belong to the state," Diokno added.

Diokno cited the 1987 Constitution in asserting that the State is obliged to provide adequate support for education, including protecting teachers from financial burdens that undermine their welfare and professional responsibilities.

The lawmaker said the proposed inquiry will determine the extent and frequency of teachers' personal spending for Brigada Eskwela and related school readiness activities, assess the adequacy and utilization of existing maintenance and operating funds, as well as review the implementation of policies prohibiting the use of teachers' personal funds for school operational requirements.

Likewise, the resolution said inquiry will also examine possible administrative, budgetary, and structural deficiencies that compel teachers to finance school maintenance and classroom improvements using their own resources.

“The inquiry should result in legislative measures that would provide stronger institutional support for teachers, including possible additional appropriations, reimbursement mechanisms, accountability measures, and other safeguards to ensure that educators are no longer burdened with financing school operations and preparations,” the resolution read.

EXPLAINER: What is Brigada Eskwela?

Brigada Eskwela is the DepEd's flagship event that calls on stakeholders to unite in preparing public schools across the country to become the best possible learning institutions for elementary and high school students.

This year's Brigada Eskwela is themed, "Bayanihan sa Paaralan: Nagkakaisa para sa Kaayusan at Kaalaman Bayan (Working Together in Schools: Unity for the Nation's Orderliness and Knowledge)," focusing on "improving school infrastructure and strengthening literacy."

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list recently raised concerns over the out-of-pocket expenses of teachers during Brigada Eskwela 2026.

ACT Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, during a privilege speech, called on the DepEd to release in full the P10,000-teaching supplies allowance of teachers prior to the start of the yearly Brigada Eskwela program.

For its part, the DepEd said teacher assistance programs are actively ongoing, including the distribution of teaching allowance to eligible beneficiaries provided by Republic Act 11997 or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has said teachers are not required to spend out of their own pockets, adding that the government should make teaching easier for them and not add to their burden. — VDV, GMA News