P500 stipend hike for Cebu City teachers

Cebu City public school teachers have something to look forward to next year.

In a speech during the Teachers’ Day celebration at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that their Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will be increased by P500 starting January.

Rama said he ordered the Local School Board to set aside a P1,500 COLA per month to Cebu City’s nearly 5,000 public school teachers.

“I want everybody to be happy,” said the mayor.

Unlike last year’s celebration, public teachers did not receive a yearend amount of P10,000 as financial aid from the city.

The amount was disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA) as improper use of the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF).

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district who addressed the teachers, said they would refile bills next year seeking to increase their salaries.

In lieu of cash assistance, the city government set aside P8.6 million to shoulder the cost of yesterday’s celebration, said Ester Cubero of the Local School Board.

Of this amount, P3.5 million was set aside for the teachers’ accommodations at the Waterfront Hotel and the cost of dinner at P700 per head.

The rest of the P5.1 million was used for other expenses of the event, including awards for outstanding teachers and raffle prizes, such as a laptop computer, refrigerator and TV set.