President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all teachers in the country for their invaluable service to the nation, especially amid the resumption of limited face-to-face classes.
In his National Teachers’ Day message, Marcos urged Filipinos to acknowledge teachers’ sacrifices in molding students and preparing them to achieve their dreams.
“I firmly believe that education is the bedrock of every prosperous society and that those who dedicate their lives to teaching are important drivers of our nation,” Mr. Marcos said.
“This is also a good opportunity to express our sincerest appreciation for their invaluable service to the nation as we safely reopen our schools and bring forth a new era of learning amid the post-pandemic world,” he said.
“Today, we honor our dear educators across the country for ensuring our youth’s holistic development as they aspire to be agents of change within their respective communities and beyond,” he said.
With the help of teachers, the President said, the country will become stronger as each Filipino becomes more equipped to create a brighter future for all.
“May this celebration not only inspire present teachers as they continue their efforts in shaping the lives of our young learners, but also motivate those whose dream is to be such agents of genuine unity and empowerment,” the Chief Executive added.
Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday joined the nation in extending his warmest greetings and paying tribute to all Filipino teachers on the celebration of National Teacher’s Day.
“This special occasion aptly reminds us of the great services that our teachers contribute to value-formation and nation-building throughout the years,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez expressed his deep gratitude to teachers for their service and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte proposed an array of measures that would institutionalize the grant of scholarships, hardship pay, and other benefits for educators.
Among these measures is House Bill (HB) 4697 which aims to further professionalize the ranks of public school educators by offering them scholarships for their graduate and post-graduate studies.
The bill also aims to ease the economic burden of public school teachers by providing educational cash assistance to their children enrolled in college courses in state universities and colleges.
Scholarships under HB 4697 cover teachers, guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts and vocational instructors, and other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions either on a full-time or part-time basis in public schools, colleges and universities.
To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant should be in active duty for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application for the grant. The scholarship is applicable in all state universities and colleges.
Duterte filed the measure with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano.
“The role of teachers goes beyond the four walls of the classroom and their work schedule. Outside of their lesson plans, they instill moral and civic values to the Filipino youth. They invest their knowledge, time and energy in molding our youth. It is high time for the state to do the same for our educators, who are considered among the pillars of our society,” they said in filing HB 4697.
Under HB 4697, retired public school teachers are also allowed to avail of educational cash aid for their children, but for only a portion of the full amount to be determined by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which will implement the bill’s provisions along with the Department of Education (DepEd). The four lawmakers, along with Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, also filed the proposed “Teachers for the Barrios Act” through HB 456.
This measure aims to amend Section 19 of Republic Act 4670 (Magna Carta for Public School Teachers) to specifically include public school teachers assigned to far flung communities in the grant of the hardship allowance.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on World Teachers’ Day renewed his push for additional allowances and benefits for teachers.
He made the call after he received the Gawad Sulo Award for Public Service from the Philippine Normal University (PNU) for his work for the welfare and betterment of the country’s educators.
“Receiving this award comes with a feeling of grace and gratitude. Most importantly, it’s a reminder to always rise above oneself, especially for the cause of our teachers who change lives, shape minds and mold futures,” Villanueva said.
“For the far-reaching role they play, our teachers deserve better,” he added.
Villanueva said his father, Jesus Is Lord founder and lawmaker Eddie Villanueva, and his late mother Adoracion “Dory” Jose-Villanueva, were public school teachers for many years.
Hailing the Filipino teachers as heroes, the senator said they deserve the support for being the lifeblood to fulfilling the right to education.