VP Duterte vows to ‘love, respect, support’ Filipino teachers

Vice President Sara Duterte in her visit to Iloilo City last August. (File photo from the Iloilo City Mayor’s Office)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte vows to listen to the demands of Filipino teachers, saying “love, respect, and support” should be accorded to them.

“I know the challenges, hardship, and sacrifices of teachers whether in public or private school and especially those who are serving in far-flung areas,” Duterte said when the Department of Education highlighted the start of the National Teachers’ Month on Tuesday.

However, the progressive teachers’ group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) called out the “lack of respect and appreciation” of the administration following a tension that occurred between the police officers and public school teachers who conducted a “grand lobbying” of their demands at the House of Representatives on Monday.

ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said they chose to celebrate the kickoff of the National Teachers’ Month at the House of Representatives in Quezon City to call for the legislation of bills that would increase their salary and double the education budget for the safe reopening of schools.

The group is urging the pay hike of Teacher I from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15 and Salary Grade 16 for Instructor I.

They are also appealing for additional compensation for their work outside their regular duties and provision of laptops, a P1,500 monthly internet allowance, and a P10,000 cash allowance every year.

Duterte, however, does not appear to be keen on supporting their demand for a salary increase for now, saying the teachers were yet to get the last tranche of salary hike under the Salary Standardization Law of 2019.

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