Bill to increase salaries of public school teachers, non-teaching personnel filed

FILE PHOTO: Senator Loren Legarda. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill to increase the minimum wage of public school teachers and non-teaching personnel.

Under Senate Bill No. 4, the salary grade level of public school teachers will be upgraded from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15  while salaries of teaching personnel in public or state universities and colleges (SUCs) will be upgraded from Salary Grade 12 to Salary Grade 16.

It also aims to make a regular entry-level position in government service to have a monthly salary of not less than P16,000.

“We must recognize the significant role of our teachers and personnel in nation-building. Our educational frontliners who have remained steadfast in our goal to provide the best for the Filipino children,” Legarda said in a statement on Wednesday.

“With the increasing cost of living, it is high time we raise their salary,” she added.

Before returning to the Senate, Legarda promised to push for salary upgrades for teachers and non-teaching personnel, stressing their importance in improving the education system in the Philippines.

“Hindi natin maikakaila na ang daming dalang hamon ng COVID-19 pandemic lalo na sa sektor ng edukasyon, ngunit dahil sa dedikasyon ng ating mga guro, patuloy nating naitataguyod ang hangaring mabigyan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang bawat batang Pilipino,” she said.

(We can not deny the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the education sector, but with the dedication of our teachers, we are continuously upholding the mission of providing quality education to every Filipino child.)

“Saludo po ako sa inyong walang pagod ninyong paggabay sa ating mga kabataan,” she added.

(I salute you for your tireless guidance of our youth.)

Aside from her bid to increase the salary of teachers, Legarda has also filed the Magna Carta for Private School Teachers and the Magna Carta of Public School Teachers to institutionalize support for education personnel— Iliana Padigos, INQUIRER.net intern

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