Legarda to push salary increase for teachers

Three-Term Senator and House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda | FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda has promised to push for salary upgrades for teachers and non-teaching personnel, citing their importance in the improvement of the education system in the Philippines.

Legarda said in Ang Senador at Ang Edukasyon: Senatorial Forum organized by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) that improving the education system would not only mean having good infrastructure and facilities for students but also addressing the needs of teachers and non-teaching personnel.

“Naitaas na po natin ang sweldo ng mga military and uniformed personnel, gayundin ang ating mga nurses. We also have to push for a competitive salary for our teachers,” said the House Deputy Speaker.

The current salary grade of an entry level public school teachers is at Grade 11 which means they receive at least P25,000 based on the Salary Standardization tranche.

“I had previously filed bills for the upgrading of teachers’ salaries when I was at the Senate. I filed it again in the House of Representatives, and I am going to continue pushing for the approval of this long-overdue measure that is so important to the teaching profession,” Legarda said.

As then chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda sponsored amendments for the welfare of Filipino teachers that increased chalk allowance from ₱1000 in 2015 to ₱2,500 in 2017 and ₱3,500 in 2018.

FILE PHOTO

In 2019, all public school teachers received their first World Teachers’ Day incentive, now given every 5th of October, after Legarda allocated ₱800 million under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“I have always pushed for the better welfare of our teachers because we owe much of our achievements to them. We must promote and advance the social, economic, and professional status of teachers and non-teaching personnel as they all play an invaluable role in national development,” Legarda said.

The three-term Senator has also backed teachers seeking proper compensation for teaching overload and overtime pay since it was not included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

She committed to coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that the efforts of teachers beyond their mandate are well compensated.

“Aside from their teaching duties, teachers are likewise most reliable in serving the general welfare. They go beyond their duties in the classroom, notably when they serve during election period and when they aid the Philippine Statistics Authority in gathering data from households across the country,” Legarda said.

“Amid the pandemic, preparation of self-learning modules for students, aside from adjusting to the blended learning system, ensuring compliance to their reportorial requirement, and attending to various online trainings, while facilitating the extended Brigada Eskwela, Oplan Balik Eskwela, enrolment, and other related activities, were added to their tasks.”

Legarda has likewise co-authored the proposed Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and the Magna Carta for Private School Teachers for the bnefit of both public and private school teachers.

“We should guarantee our teachers adequate support to motivate them more… I will continue to push for the greater welfare of our unsung heroes, ” Legarda said.

RELATED STORIES

Legarda backs teachers’ rights and welfare

Loren Legarda first to file COC, gunning for a Senate comeback

Loren Legarda backs employment programs for displaced workers

Legarda wants P30 billion ‘bridge fund’ for reeling restaurant industry

Loren Legarda extends help to home province Antique, other areas badly hit by ‘Odette’