Teachers’ pay hike plan welcomed

MANILA - ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio on Wednesday, January 10, welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to increase the salaries of public school teachers.

This, after the President signed into law the bill doubling the monthly base pay of all military, police and uniformed personnel.

“As long-time advocates for decent pay, we welcome the statement coming from the Palace that President Duterte wants to increase the salaries of public school teachers,” Tinio said.

“His administration has already set the benchmark by doubling the basic pay of uniformed personnel starting this year. Our teachers deserve nothing less. We eagerly await the formal proposal from the DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” he added.

Tinio said the monthly income of teachers should not be less than P16,000.

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, for her part, pressed Malacañang to announce the amount

of increase and timetable for its implementation.

“It is only just that the administration immediately grant the well-deserved substantial salary increase for public school teachers and to set the minimum wage for government employees at P16,000,” she said.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., the President has already directed the Budget department to find ways and means to increase the teachers’ pay.

The proposal will be included in the second tax reform package to be deliberated by Congress as stated by Roque.

Tinio has called the President’s pronouncement as “significant” as it counters the statements of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Education Secretary Leonor Briones.