Their campaign for a higher salary has gained support.
Last July 11, Senate Bill No. 2408 entitled “An Act Providing Additional Support and Compensation for Educators in Basic Education” was submitted to the Senate and was approved by Allan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Mar Roxas and other senators. According to the bill’s declaration of policy, the government shall “promote the welfare and economic well-being of public school teachers, locally-funded teachers and non-teaching personnel” who are its primary beneficiaries. Section 4 of the bill says that “an amount of P9,000 per month shall be granted” to the beneficiaries and “shall be paid in three equal tranches” (P3,000 every year for three years). Also, the teachers shall receive financial support, medical allowance and Magna Carta bonus. So far, SB 2408 has passed second reading in the Senate.
A similar bill was filed in the Lower House. House Bill 4734, which is entitled “The Public School Teachers’ Additional Compensation Act”, is being pushed by Gabriela Women’s Party representative, Luzviminda Ilagan who herself was a school teacher.
