DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa. (File photo from website of the Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday refused to comment on the proposal of opposition lawmakers for a substantial increase in the salary of teachers, pending a World Bank (WB) study on whether there was a need for such a pay hike.
The results of the study — expected to be released in a “few weeks” — would be the basis of the agency’s position on the wage increase for teachers, according to the DepEd spokesperson, Undersecretary Michael Poa.
Nevertheless, Poa said that the department would attend deliberations at the House of Representatives once the bill pushing for such a salary hike reaches the committee level.
“DepEd will always advocate for additional benefits for our teachers,” he told reporters in a message thread. “The department will diligently participate in the congressional deliberations for the said bill.”
Poa was referring to House Bill No. 9920, which was filed by the Makabayan bloc on Tuesday, seeking to raise the minimum monthly salary for teachers to P50,000.
Living costs-compatible
According to Makabayan lawmakers ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, the bill aims to make teachers’ wages compatible with the current cost of living.
Should it be passed into law, the bill would almost double the current salary of public school teachers.
Poa, on the other hand, reiterated that even before the bill was filed, the DepEd had already tied up with the WB for the conduct of a study on whether there was a need to raise teachers’ wages.
“[The study is] not only on whether an increase should be made but also on the ideal percentage of increases for the coming years vis-à-vis inflation rates,” he said.
Asked if the DepEd was at least supportive of the Makabayan bloc’s bill, Poa again maintained that their stand would depend on the WB’s findings.