Caloocan public school teachers to receive P2,000 allowance by 2025

Caloocan City Mayor Along Malapitan  (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net file photo)

“Sa ating mga huwaran at maaasahang guro sa Caloocan, ito po ang pagtupad ko sa aking ipinangako na gawing P2,000 ang inyong augmentation pay bilang pagpapakita ng ating pagpapahalaga at pangangalaga sa bawat isa sa inyo,” Malapitan said in a Facebook post on Saturday.

(To our exemplary and dependable teachers in Caloocan, this fulfills my promise to make your augmentation pay P2,000 to show our appreciation and care for each of you.)

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) Caloocan Chairman Jaime Albiza said on Sunday that the increase in local allowances has long been a demand from teachers.

Hence, he said this move by the local government unit (LGU) of Caloocan was recognized and appreciated by teachers.

“Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin, at mababang sahod ng mga guro, malaking tulong na ito sa amin,” Albiza said in a statement.

(This is already a big help to us considering the high cost of living, high prices of goods, and the low salaries of teachers.)

According to Albiza, the local allowance provided by the Caloocan LGU reached P2,000 in 2016.

However, it dropped to P1,000 when the Joint Circular No. 1 s. 2017 was implemented by the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Education.

“Ipinagbawal kasi ng nasabing circular ang paggamit ng SEF [Special Education Fund] para sa local allowances ng mga national government employees, kabilang na ang mga guro,” the TDC said in a statement.

(The said circular prohibited the use of the Special Education Fund (SEF) for the local allowances of national government employees, including teachers.)

The teachers’ coalition also recalled the gradual increase in their local allowance over the years: from P1,200 in 2022 to P1,500 in 2023, P1,700 in 2024, and finally back to P2,000 in 2025.

With this, the TDC continues to call for the amendment of Joint Circular No. 1 to grant LGUs sufficient funds to provide higher local allowances to its teachers.

It also emphasized that the best solution is an across-the-board salary increase for teachers nationwide.

“Appreciated po natin ang anumang hakbang mula sa LGUs para tulungan ang kanilang mga guro. Ngunit siyempre, mas mainam pa rin na ito’y gampanan ng national government para sa kapakinabangan ng lahat ng guro at kawani ng sektor ng edukasyon,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas expressed in a statement on Sunday.

(We appreciate any efforts from LGUs to assist their teachers. However, of course, it would still be better if the national government handled this responsibility for the benefit of all teachers and education sector workers.)