5 lawmakers co-authors of salary upgrade bill for teachers

ANGELES CITY -- Three Pampanga legislators from the House of Representatives and two party-list lawmakers are among the 180 who co-authored House Bill (HB) 2142, which seeks to upgrade the salary grade level of the country’s public school teachers.

The HB 2142, otherwise known as the “Salary Upgrading Bill for Teachers in the 15th Congress of the Philippines,” is principally authored by Act Teachers party-list representative Antonio Tinio, and co-authored by 1st district Representative Carmelo F. Lazatin; Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (3rd district; Anna York P. Bondoc (4th district); Catalina C Bagasina (Association of Laborers and Employees or ALE); and Agapito H. Guanlao (Butil).

The bill was also ably supported by Rafael V Mariano of AnakPawis; Teddy A. Casiño and Neri J. Colmenares of Bayan Muna; Emmi A. De Jesus and Luzviminda C. Ilagan of Gabriela; and Raymond V. Palatino of Kabataan.

Tinio, in his earlier speeches in defense of the bill and his privilege speech about a week ago, said the bill seeks to address the meager salary of teachers, as it is one of the most pressing concerns confronting Philippine education.

The HB 2142 is just one among the major house bills currently being lobbied by ACT Teachers Party-list. It precisely pushes for the upgrading of public school teachers from salary grade 11 to salary grade 15 and of public higher education teachers of State Universities and Colleges, respectively.

Other Central Luzon lawmakers who co-authored the bill are: Herminia B. Roman and Albert Raymond S. Garcia -- first and second district of Bataan; Ma. Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado, Pedro M. Pancho and Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica -- first, second and fourth districts of Bulacan; Josefina M. Joson, Joseph Gilbert F.Violago, Czarina D.Umali and Rodolfo W.Antonino – first, second, third and fourth districts of Nueva Ecija; and Ma. Milagros H. Magsaysay -- first district of Zambales.