LP senators hit Diokno’s ‘insensitive, heartless’ stance on teacher’s pay hike

Sen Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (left), Sen. Franklin Drilon (center), and Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino (right).  (INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS)

“Insensitive, if not heartless” was how three Liberal Party senators described on  Friday the declaration of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who said that raising the teachers’ pay was not a priority of the administration at this time.

“It’s not certainly the way to treat our public school teachers, who have been seeking government’s help for higher salaries and additional benefits so that they can live decently,” Senator Francis Pangilinan, LP president, said in a joint statement.

“Beyond their traditional mission in the classrooms, teachers are mentors and influencers of the youth and of the community. Their critical role in nation-building could not be overlooked,” added Pangilinan, whose mother is a retired teacher.

If the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was able to find funds to increase the base pay of military and uniformed personnel, then Diokno had no reason to “whine” about the cost of increasing the pay of public school teachers, according to Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

“Instead of slamming the doors on the plea of the teachers, Secretary Diokno should use his wise judgment and skills to find the funds and put money where it is most needed. Investments on the country’s human resources, especially our teachers, can never go wrong,” Drilon, vice chair of LP, said in the same statement.

Senator Bam Aquino, meanwhile, pointed out that while teachers may not bear arms or engage in dangerous missions, they give the same dedication and hard work to educate the students.

“They have legitimate demands and are not shielded from the impact of higher prices of goods and services, especially with the TRAIN law in place,” Aquino, another LP member, said. TRAIN is the newly-signed Tax Reform for Advancement and Inclusion law.

“Gaya ng sundalo at pulis, gumagamit din sila ng gasolina, bumibili ng pagkain at iba pang gastusin na nagtaas na dahil sa TRAIN law,” added Aquino, principal sponsor of the Expanded Tertiary Education Act.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s desire to increase the pay of public school teachers after the salaries of police personnel and soldiers had been raised.

But Diokno, reacting to the Roque’s statement the following day, said: “That is not our priority at this time. Our priority is the ‘Build, Build, Build’ and social protection. I think we have to study that very carefully.”

READ: Budget chief douses hopes public school teachers for doubled pay

/kga