Teachers’ group laments salary delay due to 2019 budget impasse
MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Rep. France Castro on Tuesday branded as an injustice the reported two-month delay in the salaries of at least 74 public school teachers allegedly due to the delay in the enactment of the proposed P3.8 2019 national budget.
The two party-list congressmen said the 74 public school teachers were hired beyond May 31, 2018, in Central Visayas and the Caraga region.
Citing reports from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Tinio and Castro said regular and permanent teachers from 32 municipalities in Central Visayas and three municipalities in Caraga region have complained of the delay in their salaries for January and February.
“Teachers have long been suffering from low salaries. The battle for pork in the national budget has caused not only a delay in the 4th tranche of the Salary Standardization Law but also a delay on the 2-month salaries of teachers hired beyond May 31, 2018, in Region VII and XIII,” Tinio said in a statement.
Castro lamented how teachers “have been disrespected by the State with the neglect and injustice for the lack of adequate salaries and just benefits.”
“Kung dati ay over-worked yet underpaid ang mga guro, ngayon overworked at tuluyan na silang unpaid. Hindi na nga dinidinig ang panawagan nilang dagdag sahod labas sa 4th tranche, hindi pa sila nababayaran ng kanilang sweldo dahil sa mga antala ng pork barrel,” she added.
The Makabayan bloc lawmakers called on the Department of Education and the Department of Budget and Management to promptly address the matter.
They also demanded President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his promise and to prioritize the immediate passage of House Bill No. 7211 that seeks to grant salary increases to teachers and other government employees.
The country has been operating under the 2018 reenacted budget as the Senate has yet to approve the proposed expenditure plan before it could be sent to Duterte.
READ: Andaya on 2019 national budget: House’s mission accomplished
