Manila Bulletin - P35,567 Pay For Teachers

Proposed
Senator Antonio Sonny F. Trillanes IV has proposed close to 100 percent monthly salary
increase for the countrys more than 500,000 public school teachers from the current P18,549 to
P35,567.
If the measure becomes a law, the government stands to spend over P18 billion a month or
P219 billion a year for the public school teachers salaries.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)
welcomed Trillanes proposal.
DepEd Communications Director Cristina Ganzon said: We have about 500,000 teachers
nationwide. We are supportive of any proposal that will improve our teachers.
Nakakataba naman ng puso para maiwasto na ang SSL3 (Salary Standardization Law, Part 3).
Sana naman maging sensitive at decisive ang DBM (Department of Budget and Management)
dito for appropriation, said Benjie Valbuena, ACT vice president and concurrent Manila Public
School Teachers Association (MPSTA) president.
The plan, through a Senate bill filed by Trillanes, must first get the approval of both the House of
Representatives and the Senate before it is sent to President Benigno S. Aquino III for approval
and signing into law.
Trillanes explained that his bill is in accordance with the 4th tranche of the implementation of the
Salary Standardization Law scheduled this month.
At present, the basic salary of public school teachers is pegged at Grade 11 or about
P18,549.00 a month, and the proposed monthly pay increase of P36,567 will move it to the
Grade 20 bracket.
Trillanes wanted this increase as a way of paying tribute to their important contribution in
educating the youth and to provide them with decent pay commensurate to the sacrifices they
make in educating the countrys youth.
Public school teachers are looked upon and heralded as molders of our youth and prime
movers of the education system. Yet, they are among the most underpaid professionals in the
country, Trillanes said.
Thus, it is but imperative and necessary to upgrade the salary grade of our public school
teachers in recognition of the significant and very critical role they play in our society, he
explained.
The Trillanes bill requires the DepEd to draw up a specific programmed budget to cover the cost
of upgrading the salary levels of all teacher plantilla positions over the next three years.
This would enable the DBM to make the necessary adjustment to facilitate the smooth
implementation of the salary hike, subject to the rules and regulations to be crafted by both the
budget and education departments, he pointed out.
Any pay adjustment should be pursued based on the qualifications and length of service
rendered by public school teachers and should not be prejudiced by any across the board
adjustments, he said.
-Mario Casayuran