MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, asked public school teachers to be patient and assured them that President Rodrigo Duterte remains committed to fulfill his promise to raise their salaries.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the implementing a P10,000 monthly salary hike is a challenge because the government would need around P150 billion.
"If you increase P10,000 for every teacher in this country, it will cost us P150 billion," he told a press conference held at Palace.
"That is why we appeal to our teachers that since this is a huge amount, medyo haba-habaan niyo muna ang pasensya, talagang mag-hahanap tayo ng pera para sa inyo (please have patience because we will really find a way to fund the proposed pay hike)," he added.
The monthly pay of entry-level teachers has so far been raised to P20,754, following the implementation of the fourth and last tranche of wage increase for government workers this year under the Salary Standardization Law.
Teachers' groups started the school year 2019-2020 by renewing their call for Duterte to fulfill his promise to grant them a salary increase.
The Teachers Dignity coalition has been pressing Duterte to approve the P10,000 across-the-board increase in government teachers' salaries.
In January, the President assured that the salary increase would take effect this year.
Asked if the proposed P10,000-pay hike for every teacher is possible, Panelo said: "We're doing something about that."
"Well, the President has committed himself and he has not reneged on any commitment he has made during the presidential elections. But what is I think certain is that the President really wants to increase the salaries of the teachers," Duterte's spokesman added. (SunStar Philippines)