Northern Mindanao teachers seek wage hikes

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– A group of educators here has once again called on the Duterte administration to approve their proposed salary increase to give meaning to the observance of National Teachers Day Friday (Oct. 4).

“We hope that the government would finally realize that [the] teaching profession is naturally service-oriented. This would put our call for a substantial increase in the proper context,” said Ophelia Tabacon, regional chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-X) in Northern Mindanao.

In a statement, Tabacon said the slated P2,000 increase is not enough.

“Tuparin ang pangako (fulfill the promise),” she said, referring to the promise of President Duterte during his 4th State of the Nation Address on July 22 to raise the pay for government workers through the enactment of a new Salary Standardization Law.

“The military had already enjoyed their doubled salary but the teachers are still coping with the meager income which is not even enough for a family of four,” Tabacon said.

ACT has demanded that the entry-level pay for teachers be raised to P30,000, P31,000 for professors of state universities and colleges, and P16,000 for all other government employees.

“This could be a substantial salary for the rising basic commodities brought about by the TRAIN law. The P20,754 cannot suffice for the family needs of the teachers, especially that teaching materials and school facilities are taken out from his or her pocket,” Tabacon said.

Teachers are one of the lowest-paid professionals in the country, according to Tabacon./lzb