Lawmaker supports salary hike bill

KIDAPAWAN CITY—North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco said the data posted on the Alliance of Concerned Teachers’ (ACT) website saying she did not sign the proposed House Bill No. 245 was not true.

In the June 24 “Has your district congressman/woman signed up for your salary increase?” post on www.act-teachers.com, Catamco’s name was marked “No,” meaning she did not sign as coauthor of the proposed bill.

Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of the province’s first district and Rep. Jose Tejada of the third district signed as coauthors of the bill.

ACT Rep. Antonio Tinio filed House Bill No. 245, which proposes to raise the minimum monthly salaries of public school teachers to P25,000 and nonteaching personnel to P15,000.

“I was shocked [to see] my name on the list of those who did not support the proposal,” Catamco told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

“I don’t know where this data came from. Representative Tinio owes me an explanation,” Catamco said.

“I am 100-percent supporting the bill. It, however, pains me why I am not included in the list,” Catamco added. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao