House panel OKs bill to protect public school teachers, staff vs child abuse cases

The House committee on basic education and culture has approved a bill that seeks to strengthen the protection of public school teachers and personnel against allegations of child abuse as well as institute support mechanisms for them.

House Bill 58 or the “Teacher Protection Act of 2016,” principally authored by ACT-Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, aims to amend Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.”

Tinio said public school personnel, most especially teachers, are at the forefront of the delivery of education services to millions of students every day.