Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) — Public school teachers are urging President Rodrigo Duterte to make good on his promise of a pay raise this year.
“We, teacher-leaders from various public school federations and associations in the National Capital Region seek the valuable attention of the President on the fervent appeal of our classroom teachers for the grant of substantial salary increase as your administration has done for the uninformed personnel in 2018,” teacher groups said in a two-page letter they delivered to Malacañang on Tuesday.
Led by the Public School Teachers Association in Metro Manila, the teachers reminded the President of his statement in January that he was willing to strike a deal with teachers to give them additional pay in 2019.
“Our federations and associations are very much willing to hold a dialogue with your office for a covenant signing for salary increase of teachers this year,” the teachers said.
Policemen and soldiers had doubled salaries in 2018, but Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said there was not enough funds to apply this to public school teachers. In January 2019, Duterte renewed his promise in a speech at the unveiling of a high school in Bulacan.
“I am willing to strike a deal in the presence of Secretary [Leonor] Briones sa mga maestra (teachers). You can choose a date… Kayo ang isusunod ko this year (You are next),” he said.
A Teacher I earns a Salary Grade of 11 or at least ₱20,754 under the fourth tranche of a pay hike effective this year.
A number of labor groups are also calling for a wage increase, saying the daily minimum wage of P537 in Metro Manila, and even lower in the provinces, is not enough to cope with rising prices of goods and services. Protests have been set for May 1, Labor Day, which is also a holiday.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Malacañang said it defers to the wage boards in determining pay adjustments.
“Ang wage board and magdedetermine kung kailan o kung hindi, depende sa circumstances surrounding whatever petition they have in mind,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
