Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on World Teachers’ Day renewed his push for additional allowances and benefits for teachers.
Villanueva made the call after he received the Gawad Sulo Award for Public Service from the Philippine Normal University (PNU) for his unwavering work for the welfare and betterment of the country’s educators.
“It’s a reminder to always rise above oneself, especially for the cause of our teachers who change lives, shape minds and mold futures.”
“Receiving this award comes with a feeling of grace and gratitude. Most importantly, it’s a reminder to always rise above oneself, especially for the cause of our teachers who change lives, shape minds, and mold futures,” the veteran legislator said.
“For the far-reaching role they play, our teachers deserve better,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator said his father, Jesus Is Lord founder and lawmaker Eddie Villanueva, and his late mother Adoracion “Dory” Jose-Villanueva, were public school teachers for many years.
“The Filipino teachers are heroes. They deserve the support for being the lifeblood to fulfilling the right to education.”
Hailing the Filipino teachers as heroes, he said they deserve the support for being the lifeblood of fulfilling the right to education.
In the 19th Congress, Villanueva has so far filed four bills for the improvement of teachers’ welfare:
1. Senate Bill No. 564 – Additional Allowance for Public Basic Education Act
2. Senate Bill No. 565 – Additional allowances for SUCs and TVI Personnel Act
3. Senate Bill No. 736 – Free Healthcare for All SUC personnel Act
4. Senate Bill No. 1045 – Teaching supplies for Public Basic Education Personnel Act
He also authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11713 or Excellence in Teacher Education Act which seeks to level up the standards of institutions by providing innovative and relevant education and training programs for incoming and current teachers.
Under the law, Villanueva pushed for transparency in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) by requiring the Professional Regulations Commission to immediately release the most recent LET questions and answers to the Teacher Education Council.
The new system is aimed at improving the examination’s timeliness and relevance to improve the passing rate, which has been stuck at 30 percent from 2009-2019.
The PNU Gawad Sulo is the highest award given by the institution to exemplary individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant strides in the development of learning, including teacher education.
