Dad wants pay hike for public teachers

CEBU, Philippines — Representative Edu Rama of the south district of Cebu City joins other legislators in the different parts of the country in seeking an increase in the salaries of entry-level public school teachers and giving them other monetary benefits.

Under the Republic Act No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, entry-level public school teachers only receive P25,000 per month.

Rama filed House Bill (HB) 4608 or the "Public School Teachers Salary Increase Act” that includes teaching personnel in all public schools at the elementary and secondary levels, as defined by Republic Act No. 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

From the current salary grade 11 for entry-level public school teachers, Rama looks into moving it to salary grade 17, which would give them P41,508 as monthly pay.

"This legislative measure is close to my heart. A teacher's salary must, at the very least, keep pace with the rise in the cost of living. It is imperative to provide public school teachers with an adequate increase in salary and allowances that meet the rising commodity prices," said Rama.

Even though Rama is not a product of a public school, he said he has relatives who are products and were teaching in public schools which gave him a picture of how the public school system works and the sacrifices teachers make for their students.

Aside from that, Rama also seeks to provide P8,000 for teaching supplies allowance and P10,000 medical examination and treatment allowance for each teacher per year.

"With this house bill, every public school teacher shall also be granted allowances to ensure that the salary increase is exclusively utilized for the public school teacher's standard of living," added Rama.

According to reports, at least 15 bills were filed in the 19th Congress seeking to increase the salaries of public school teachers.

All bills are pending with the Committee on Appropriations. — GAN (FREEMAN)