The Alliance of Concerned Teachers today welcomed the filing of a bill in the House of Representatives providing for a P9,000 across-the-board increase for public school teachers.

House Bill 4734, entitled “The Public School Teachers’ Additional Compensation Act,” was authored by Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and co-filed by Liza Maza of GWP,  Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna, and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis.

It provides for a P9,000 across-the-board salary increase for all public school teachers and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education. The increase will be given in three equal tranches over three years. Locally-funded teachers are also covered by the bill.

A delegation of 30 teachers, carrying flags and streamers and wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Upgrade teachers’ salaries now!” held a short march to the Batasang Pambansa gate, where they were met by Rep. Ilagan. The group then went inside to file the bill.

House Bill 4734 serves as a counterpart to Senate Bill 2408, “An Act Providing for Additional Support and Compensation for Educators in Basic Education,” which has been approved on second reading in the upper chamber.

The Senators who approved the bill were: Allan Peter Cayetano, Juan Ponce Enrile, Richard Gordon, Gringo Honasan, Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Rodolfo Biazon, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel, and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

ACT chairperson Antonio Tinio commended the Gabriela representative for authoring the bill. “We thank Rep. Ilagan, who is a teacher herself, for responding to our appeal to have a counterpart bill filed in the lower house. While very good progress has been made in the Senate, a lot of work needs to be done in the House to ensure that the much needed upgrading of teachers’ salaries is enacted into law.”

Tinio noted that passage of HB 4734 has acquired greater urgency in the wake of a soaring 11.4% inflation rate, skyrocketing food and fuel prices, and newly imposed increases of jeepney, bus, and taxi fares. “As of June, the National Wages and Productivity Commission has determined that a family of six in the National Capital Region needs to earn P894 per day or P19,668 per month to live decently. The proposed legislation will raise teachers’ salaries from the current P10,933 per month to over P19,000, bringing much need relief.”

ACT called on the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of the bill. “Quality education requires well-trained teachers with decent salaries. Sadly, years of underspending on education has resulted in the erosion of teachers’ salaries. Their incomes are now close to the poverty threshold. Many are choosing to work abroad or even to work as call center agents. We urge our representatives in Congress to remedy the situation by passing this HB 4734,” said Tinio.

ACT vowed to hold more and bigger mass actions until the upgrading of teachers’ salaries is enacted into law.  #