Trillanes’ proposed bill to increase teachers’ salary is long overdue! -ACT

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers welcomes the proposed bill by Senator Antonio Trillanes that aims to raise the salary of public school teachers from P18,549 to P35, 567 per month.

“As stated in Article XIV, Section 5 (5) of the Philippine Constitution, the State “shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.” In addition, Republic Act 4670, otherwise known as The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, mandates that the salaries of public school

teachers shall compare fovorably with those paid in other occupations requiring or similar qualification, trainings and abilities. Further, the Magna Carta states that the salary we are receiving must insure a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families,” said Ms. France Castro, ACT Secretary – General.

The current pay scheme of government fails to fulfil these criteria. Salaries of public school teachers do not compare favorably with other occupation in government. A duly licensed professional teacher occupying the entry-level position of Teacher I earns P18,549 a month (Salary Grade 11, Step 1), substantially less than a high school graduate who enters the Philippine Military Academy as a cadet who hasa monthly salary of P21,709 per month.

“The salaries of public school teachers are currently unable to “insure a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families.” According to the study of IBON Foundation, the Family Living Wage (FLW) in the National Capital Region, estimated at P1,054 per day or more than P21,054 per month, which means that many teachers resort to borrowing from government financial institutions such as the Government Service Insurance System, private lending institutions, or loan sharks in order to cope with this “living salary gap,” added Ms. Castro.

“As a matter of fact, we have been campaigning since the 15th Congress for the enactment of House Bill 245 filed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, but until now the house leadership is yet to approve it. We are now consolidating all of our chapters nationwide to launch different forms of activities to urge the BS Aquino government to signify this bill as urgent and be one of his priorities. If we need to launch a strike just to awaken the BS Aquino leadership, we will not hesitate to do it. Teachers are already tired of thinking and doing different ways just to make both ends meet,” concluded Ms. Castro.