Cayetano pushes higher pay for teachers

MANILA, Philippines - Recognizing the important role of educators in improving the quality of education in the country, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing anew for the immediate passage of a measure that would provide at the very least P10,000 as additional support and compensation to public school teachers.

“Coming from a family of teachers, I very well understand the plight of our educators, especially those who belong to the public school system. They are the backbone of our country’s future yet they do not receive the monetary benefits to commensurate their contributions to our society,” Cayetano said in celebration of World Teachers Day tomorrow.

Cayetano’s grandmother, Juliana Cabrera Luna, was a public school teacher at Pateros Elementary School. His mother, Sandra, was a pre-school directress and teacher while his father, the late Senator Rene “Compañero” Cayetano, taught in Law in Lyceum of the Philippines and brother Congressman Lino taught in U.P. College of Mass Communication.

Senate Bill 94, which he authored, will primarily benefit public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, Philippine Science High School System teaching and non-teaching personnel, and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd), excluding those occupying positions from salary grade level 30 upwards.

Once approved, the bill will give teachers additional compensation of P9,000, support in the form of allowances and other remuneration from local school board funds, a P1,000 allowance for medical check-up per year, and a bonus to answer for the unpaid benefits granted by the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

“Teachers mold the Filipino youth into becoming responsible citizens. We are who we are, in part, because of our teachers. To my colleagues in the Senate, let us show our gratitude to our educators by approving Senate Bill 94,” the senator said.

Cayetano also cited a Wolrd Bank study which described teachers as the single most important factor in the performance of students.

“Better pay for teachers is equal to better quality education. At hindi tayo mapapagod sa pagsulong sa kalidad na edukasyon para sa kabataang Pilipino.” Cayetano said, scoring the government’s inaction because of graft and corruption.

“Lately we are seeing action (good projects) but with massive corruption. Naniniwala tayo na maraming makikinabang kapag may aksyon na walang korupsyon,” he emphasized.