Benjo Basas, National Chairperson, Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC). Photo by Arnel Tuazon

The reference is the P10,000 across the board increase for teachers and we anticipate that the government will work for it. This amount which will be applicable to all teachers regardless of position is much lower than what the government has previously granted to the military and uniformed personnel by way of a Congressional Joint Resolution last year.

Teachers and other rank and file state workers suffered low pay and limited benefits since 1989 when the salary standardization law (SSL) was first implemented. Former President Aquino prolonged that suffering by extending the SSL thru his EO 201 which gave us a meager P2,205 increase spread over a period of four years.

If President Duterte will base the salary increase on that obsolete law, just like his predecessors, he would be a party for the perpetuation of the scheme which is unjust and discriminatory.

There are 800,000 teachers, not millions by the way, and all of them are anticipating a pay scheme that recognizes the teachers’ crucial role in our society. We fervently hope that President Duterte would deliver his promise.

Reference:

Benjo Basas, National Chairperson
09273356375/ 09230819750

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