LRay Villafuerte, Representative of Camarines Sur Second District, emphasized on Saturday that vocational teachers and librarians are also eligible for the increased teaching allowance under Republic Act No. 11997, better known as the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.

"The 100 percent increase in the current teaching allowance of P5,000 yearly per teacher in recognition of the invaluable contribution of our educators to nation-building is certainly timely in the face of sticky inflation," according to Villafuerte.

The congressman emphasized that the P10,000 allowance for the upcoming school year will benefit not just public school teachers with basic education teaching loads, but also vocational instructors, librarians, guidance counselors, and teachers in the Alternative Learning System and community learning centers.

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He said this doubled teaching allowance is tax-free and considered an outright expense. Hence, the beneficiaries no longer have to submit or present official receipts as proof of their purchases.

Meanwhile, Villafuerte lauded Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara for the prompt approval of the implementing rules and regulations of the law that bumps up the annual allowance of public school teachers for their purchases of teaching supplies and materials, payment of incidental expenses, and the implementation of various learning delivery modes in their respective schools.

According to Villafuerte, the beneficiaries of RA No.11997 are public school teachers, whether permanent or provisional, guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all public schools.