As embodied in House Bill 5410, public-school teachers will get a 20- percent discount from government-owned and -controlled corporations or private entities operating public transport facilities, whether land, sea or air; on hospital, medical and dental services, including medicines from drugstores and drug companies; hotels, lodging houses, restaurants and eateries, and recreational facilities, like movie houses, circuses, carnivals, and, on gym or other facilities offering physical fitness program.
Party-list Reps. Christopher Co Rodel Batocabe and Alfredo Garbin Jr. of Ako Bicol said the discount privileges would give substantial economic relief to the country’s educators.
“Teachers have been given little attention as far as their protection, security and the upliftment of their physical and social well-being by the government,” said Co.
He said the worldwide economic crisis, high unemployment rate and soaring prices of basic commodities have severely strained the capacity of public-school teachers to provide a decent and dignified living necessitating the assistance and cooperation of the state.
Batocabe, for his part, said government lending institutions shall give priority to public-school teachers in the grant of loans intended to provide capital for or to finance livelihood and other income-generating projects, and other immediate needs in case of emergency, subject to banking rules and regulations.
“The discount privileges and other benefits mentioned in the bill shall apply only to the personal account of the public-school teacher in payment for services and goods actually used by him or her and in no case extends to relatives or companions who are not qualified beneficiaries,” Batocabe said.
The bill provides that the amount of discounts granted shall be allowed as deduction in the computation of taxable income by the public or private entities and individual granting the discount.
Under the bill, any person, corporation, cooperative, partnership or association who refuses to extend the privileges and benefits granted to a public-school teacher shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional or a fine of not more than P50,000 or both at the discretion of the court.
