SENATOR Sonny Angara has expressed full support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to increase the salary of public school teachers.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech in Davao City on Friday, promised to raise the salary of public school teachers after the basic pay of the military and the police have already been doubled.
“We support 100 percent the President’s plan to raise the salary of our public school teachers. They are among the most underpaid workers, given their workload and role in the society.
“Teachers are heralded as molders of our children’s future and second parents, and yet, they receive a basic salary that does not equate to their contribution,” he said.
Angara’s Senate Bill 135 seeks to upgrade the minimum salary grade level of teachers from Salary Grade 11 to 19—doubling their current monthly base pay from P20,179 to P42,099.
The lawmaker stressed that the increase in salaries would attract more qualified and competent educators to teach in public schools.
“Our teachers are considered to be the heart of the educational system. The government needs to give priority to their welfare and interests. Definitely, this would lead to an improvement in the quality of education in our public school system,” said the senator.
Angara has been pushing for teachers’ salary hike since his time in the House.
Angara noted that the low salaries received by public school teachers have been a major disincentive for them to improve their skills in teaching and pursue further education and training.
“Having inspired and capable teachers is probably one of the best investments our government could make,” he said.