Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking to increase teachers’ salaries to uplift their morale and to motivate more students to join the country’s teaching force.
In a forum hosted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) entitled “Ang Senador at ang Edukasyon,” Gatchalian shared his proposal on how to increase teachers’ salaries, especially at the entry level.
The veteran legislator proposes to raise the salary grade of Teacher I from Salary Grade 11 to either Salary Grade 13 or 14.
Currently, the salary of a Teacher I position or Salary Grade 11 is at P25,439 under the third tranche of the Salary Standardization Law V.
If the salary grade of Teacher I is raised to Salary Grade 13 under the current tranche, the starting pay would be equivalent to P29,798.
Based on estimates by the Senator’s Office, this would require an additional P58.6 billion on top of the P379.6 billion annual compensation of Teachers I, II, and III.
When a Teacher I’s salary grade is raised to Salary Grade 14 under the third tranche of the Salary Standardization Law V, the pay would be equivalent to P32,321.
This would require approximately P92.1 billion on top of the annual compensation cost of Teachers I, II, and III.
Under the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law which will be effective next year, Step 1 of Salary Grade 13 would be equivalent to P31,320 while Step 1 of Salary Grade 14 will amount to P33,843.
“Isa sa ating mga adbokasiya ay hikayatin ang mga estudyante natin na kumuha ng kurso sa pagtuturo.”
“Isa sa ating mga adbokasiya ay pataasin ang moral ng ating mga guro at hikayatin ang mga estudyante natin na kumuha ng kurso sa pagtuturo,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
“Isang paraan dyan ay taasan po yung sweldo,” said the chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
“The entry-level pay for Filipino teachers is lower compared to other ASEAN countries.”
The senator also pointed out that the entry-level pay for Filipino teachers is lower compared to other ASEAN countries such as Indonesia (P66,099), Singapore (P60,419), Malaysia (P44,496), Thailand (P37,152), and Vietnam (P36,115).
“Ang guro po ang pinakamahalagang sangkap pagdating sa sektor ng edukasyon dahil direkta silang nagbibigay ng kaalaman sa ating mga mag-aaral. Importante na nasusuportahan natin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at napapangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan,” he added.
