MANILA, Philippines - Citing the rising price of basic commodities and utilities, public school teachers called on the government to issue this year a P1,500 pay hike installment they are scheduled to get next year.
Benjo Basas, national chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said that the bad economic situation, with the rising prices of basic goods and services, is giving tremendous pressure to public school teachers.
The group said that a big financial boost the government could give them is to expedite the full implementation of the Salary Standardization Law-3 which is due on July 2012. Under the law, the entry-level position of public school teachers will reach a total of P18,549 on July 2012. “We are also in solidarity with other some government employees’ groups who called for a P6000 salary increase,” he added.