The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking the guidance and support of Congress on proposals to provide separate compensation to DepEd teachers serving as tutors under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, citing the need for clear legal authority and corresponding budget cover.
In letters to congressional education leaders, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said DepEd recognizes the vital role of teachers in implementing ARAL, which provides targeted learning recovery support to learners who need additional help in reading, mathematics, and other foundational competencies.
However, DepEd clarified that under the current ARAL Law or Republic Act No. 12028, and the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act, compensation for DepEd teachers serving as ARAL tutors may only be provided in accordance with existing legal and budgetary provisions.
At present, the ARAL Law authorizes compensation for DepEd teachers in the form of overload pay after they have rendered the prescribed six hours of actual classroom teaching. The FY 2026 budget also does not provide a separate appropriation for DepEd ARAL tutor compensation regardless of teaching load, apart from existing allocations for overload pay and the engagement of external tutors.
“Malinaw ang posisyon ng DepEd: gusto nating suportahan at kilalanin ang dagdag na trabaho ng ating teachers sa ARAL Program. Pero kailangan din nating sumunod sa batas at sa pondong ipinagkaloob sa atin. Magbibigay tayo ng compensation kung may malinaw na legal basis at sapat na budget para rito,” Angara said.
DepEd said it has studied possible options for separate compensation. Based on initial estimates, a uniform-rate scheme would require around PHP4.307 billion, while a Prime Hourly Teaching Rate-based approach would require at least PHP7.266 billion.
The Department added that these options would require amendments to the ARAL Law to authorize compensation regardless of a teacher’s regular teaching load, as well as corresponding appropriations beginning School Year 2027–2028.
For SY 2026–2027, DepEd said it intends to implement the ARAL Program in accordance with existing law and the funds authorized under the FY 2026 national budget. Under the current framework, DepEd teachers may receive overload pay or vacation service credits, as applicable, while external tutors may be compensated based on approved program guidelines and available budget.
Angara said DepEd remains committed to implementing ARAL as a learning recovery intervention aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen Philippine education and reach learners who need additional academic support.
“Hindi natin iiwan ang mga batang kailangan ng dagdag na tulong sa pagkatuto, at hindi rin natin isasantabi ang kapakanan ng teachers na tumutulong sa kanila. Ang kailangan ay maayos na polisiya, malinaw na batayan, at sapat na pondo para maging sustainable at patas ang pagpapatupad,” Angara said.
DepEd said it will continue working with Congress, the Department of Budget and Management, and other concerned agencies to strengthen ARAL implementation, ensure compliance with the law and the national budget, and provide technical inputs should lawmakers pursue amendments to the ARAL Law and funding for a separate compensation mechanism.
