Higher salary, more benefits for teachers pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Sonny Angara has expressed optimism that his pet bills calling for higher salaries and additional benefits for public school teachers in the country will soon be approved at the Senate.

Angara has filed Senate Bill 61 that aims to upgrade the salary grade level of teachers from SG 11 to 19, nearly doubling their current monthly base pay from P18,549 to P33,859.

Aside from salary increase, the senator also pushed for the extension of teachers’ benefits, such as scholarship grants and free medical treatment under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers or Republic Act 4670, to their dependents.

Under Senate Bill 200, dependents will also be entitled to a monthly pension in case the teacher suffers from a permanent partial or total disability.

The second bill defines qualified dependents as a teacher’s child not more than 21 years old or incapable of self-support because of physical defect regardless of age, who is not married nor gainfully employed, and is still living or dependent upon the teacher for support.

SB 200 also encourages teachers to form cooperatives in their municipalities to promote their economic welfare.

“Teachers are the unsung heroes of our time. The academic achievements of students are celebrated, but no proper recognition is given to the teachers who molded these students and played a major role in their scholastic advancement,” Angara said.

Recognition in the form of higher pay and additional benefits will attract highly competent individuals to become public school teachers, he said.