Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte would not renege on his word to double the salary of public school teachers, a long overdue campaign promise that has yet to be fullfilled midway his six-year term.
For now, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government is finding ways on where to source the fund for the salary increase of public school teachers.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, Duterte called on Congress to pass the new Salary Standardization Law that will raise the pay of government workers, including public school teachers.
READ: Duterte to Congress: Pass new law on gov’t workers, teachers salary hike
“To the teachers who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, kasali na po dito ‘yung hinihingi niyo. Hindi masyadong malaki pero it will tide you over,” the President said.
Panelo explained that the government is still looking for ways to double the teachers pay, the President was not “definitely” reneging from his promise.
“Ibig sabihin ni Presidente, habang wala pa yung budget ‘yan muna. Pupunta tayo doon. Hindi ba, ilang beses niya na ring sinabi yun, eh. Hinahanapan nga ng source. Pati nga DBM naghahanap din eh,” Panelo said.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Tuesday the government could afford to raise the salaries of government employees, including teachers.
READ: Gov’t can afford pay hike, says Dominguez
“Eh ‘di lalong magaling. Can afford pala, eh,” Panelo said.
Panelo cited the previous statement of acting Budget Secretary Janet Abuel that immediately doubling the salary of teachers would be hard.
“Yung sa teachers, sinasabi kasi ni Secretary Abuel noon kung idodoble mo kaagad, mahihirapan tayo. Kaya kailangan parang staggered,” he said.
“So ‘pag sinabi ni Secretary Dominguez na ‘can afford,’ he refers doon sa mga sinasabi rin ni Secretary Abuel,”he added. /jpv