Gonzales guarantees timely release of the WTDIB
Eastern Samar lone district Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, serving as House Assistant Minority Leader, announced that the total ₱955 million allocated for this year’s World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) will be released on Sunday, Oct. 5. He said over 950,000 public school teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd) are poised to receive the ₱1,000 cash gift on that day.
“The ₱955 million funding for this year’s WTDIB is line-itemized in the 2025 General Appropriations Law, with a special provision to guarantee its timely release,” Gonzales stated in a Sept. 28 release. He noted his roles as part of the House Committees on Appropriations and on Basic Education and Culture, where he has emphasized education funding as a national priority.
Gonzales stressed that ensuring timely disbursement of the incentive is a recurring objective and added that he and colleagues will keep the program at the forefront of annual budget discussions. “We assure our teachers that this incentive will remain a priority every year. In fact, we’ve filed a bill seeking to hopefully enhance the benefit,” he said.
What is the World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit?
The WTDIB is a targeted cash gift for public school teachers. UNESCO has celebrated World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5 since 1994 to honor teachers’ pivotal role in society. In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10743 designates Oct. 5 as National Teachers’ Day to recognize the dedication and compassion of Filipino educators. The WTDIB itself began six years ago through a simple line-item insertion in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2019, marking a tangible gesture of support for teachers beyond regular salaries.
HB 4531: Proposals to expand the benefit
Earlier this month, Gonzales and House Minority Leader Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan filed House Bill (HB) No. 4531, which seeks to triple the WTDIB to ₱3,000 per teacher and to make the benefit permanent rather than an annual funding line-item. The measure frames the higher grant as more than a one-time incentive, describing it as a sustained expression of gratitude and a recognition of teachers’ essential role in nation-building.
“The proposed higher benefit is not merely an incentive but a clear expression of our nation’s gratitude. Public school teachers are the backbone of our education system. They deserve recognition not just in words but through tangible support,” Gonzales said.
Aiming for permanence and better support
HB 4531 would institutionalize the WTDIB by embedding it more firmly into the annual budget process, potentially establishing a permanent feature of the country’s educational funding framework. Supporters argue that permanent recognition could improve teacher morale, retention, and classroom outcomes, complementing broader efforts to raise teaching standards and resource availability.
Why this matters for teachers and schools
With DepEd employing more than 950,000 teachers nationwide, even modest incentives can have meaningful effects on classroom morale and stability. Advocates contend that tangible funds for teachers help offset costs associated with professional development, classroom resources, and personal investments in student learning—areas that impact long-term educational outcomes.
Context and next steps
The WTDIB sits within a broader framework of recognizing teachers’ contributions while education funding remains a key policy battleground. As debates over the size and permanence of incentives continue, the Oct. 5 payout provides a timely reminder of the government’s ongoing commitment to educators. If HB 4531 progresses, the ₱3,000 proposal could become part of a permanent mechanism to honor teachers beyond a single annual grant. For now, the immediate goal is to ensure the current ₱1,000 WTDIB reaches every public school teacher by Oct. 5, in line with the 2025 GAA and the special provision guaranteeing timely release.
