Every year, we celebrate “World Teachers’ Day” on October 5 as declared by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because teachers are fundamental in guiding children, youth and adults through the life-long learning process. On this day, we take some time to revere our teachers as unsung heroes who have helped us find ourselves and build our lives in a challenging world.
But as we honor our teachers, they continue their daily grind – waking up before sunrise, preparing for their classes, lugging around unchecked papers and school supplies, managing students in the classroom, ensuring lessons are understood and absorbed – and the list goes on.
With all their hard work and sacrifice, and with the responsibility of molding our future leaders and citizenry, we believe they deserve one special holiday a year. We propose that October 5 be declared National Teachers’ Day in the Philippines and made a paid non-working holiday for all teachers.
Despite their seeming tirelessness, teachers need rest too – a small exchange for all the time they devote to our students, to the next generation.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
Table of Contents
Senate Bill No. 2058
Introduced by: Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
AN ACT DECLARING OCTOBER 5 OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL TEACHERS DAY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Teachers Day Act.”
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the indispensable role of teachers in educating our citizens. It is thus but fitting that the State ensure that the teaching profession attract the best and the brightest by making teachers’ compensation and benefits reasonably competitive and attractive.
Sec. 3. October 5 of every year shall be declared as a non-working holiday for all teachers in the Philippines provided that all teachers shall be paid their regular daily pay during the said day.
Sec. 4. The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) shall jointly formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
Sec. 5. All laws, orders, issuances rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved,
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