VARIOUS teachers’ federations submitted a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday, April 30, to press him on the promised pay hike for teachers.
April 30 marks the last day for the fulfillment of Duterte's January announcement that he will double the teachers’ salaries within two to three months.
“With April coming to a close, we just want to remind the President of the much-needed salary increase of teachers which he himself committed to grant repeatedly in the past but has so far only done so for uniformed personnel,” said Cristina Manalo, president of the Philippine Public School Teachers’ Association (PPSTA)–National Capital Region (NCR).
The letter elaborated the teachers’ struggle to cope with the rising prices using their "meager salaries and skimpy increases" with the presently in effect salary adjustment under former President Benigno Aquino III’s Executive Order 201.
In one too many cases, cited the letter, teachers are only left with P5,000 per month due to being "debt-strapped" to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Department of Education (DepEd)-accredited private lending institutions. Thus the urgent need for the promised salary increase.
The federations also expressed their openness to the President’s previous invitation for a discussion with teachers’ representatives, together with DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, and a signing of an agreement or manifesto for the salary increase.
“We are urging the President to make good on his word. He knows of teachers’ dedication in providing quality education to our youth amid challenging situations. We only ask for what is due to us -- decent salaries that will bring dignity to our noble profession,” said Manalo.
The letter, submitted to the Office of the President, was signed by PPSTA-NCR, Manila Public School Teachers Association, Malabon Public Elementary and Secondary Teachers Association, Pateros Public School Teachers Federation, United Association of Public School Teachers of Las Piñas Inc., Taguig Public School Teachers Association, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association, Caloocan Public Elementary and Secondary Teachers Federation, and Marikina City Federation of Public School Teachers Inc. (PR)