“GIVE due honor to the teachers.”

This was stressed by Richard Gelangre, Bacolod City Public School Teachers Federation Association president, who led the “Walk for Salary Increase” on Friday, October 4, 2019.

The walk is in observance of World Teachers' Day where classes have been suspended.

At 6 a.m., at least 2,500 public school teachers in Bacolod City marched from Rizal Elementary School going to the Bacolod Arts Center of Bacolod City National High School.

“We are doing this to remind our national government, especially President Rodrigo Duterte, the Congress and the Department of Budget and Management to increase the budget allocated for the salary of teachers,” Gelangre said.

He said P31 billion had been proposed for compensation adjustment for all government employees, including teachers, but it is not substantial.

Gelangre said the proposed allocation is not enough for public school teachers to have a reasonable living wage.

“Three years ago, President Duterte assured us that his administration will give us P10,000 per month across-the-board salary increase, so he should keep his promise. The government should consider our demands for a salary increase to a minimum of P30,000 per month,” Gelangre said.

He added that they are now "suffering from the severe condition of being overworked and underpaid."

“Give due honors to the teachers who created all the professions and give the socio-economic benefits that are not way below the poverty threshold so that our teachers can focus on their works,” Gelangre said.

He said they are hopeful that the substantial salary increase will be included in 2020 General Appropriation Act. (MAP)