MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 16, 2013) – State teachers in the Philippines have demanded a raise in their salaries and at the same time calling for the abolition of a government incentive program, saying it resulted in widespread demoralization among their ranks.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers, which is fighting for the rights of government educators, said there is a need for more funding to be able to fairly pay teachers.
It said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has already said that there is zero allocation for the teachers’ salary increase in the proposed 2014 national budget.
ACT Philippines national chairman Benjie Valbuena said the current education budget is P336.9 billion and that at least P38 billion more is needed as additional funding for the annual budget of the Department of Education to be able to give teachers the long-due salary increase.
Government teacher, he said, only receives a monthly salary from P18,459 to P25,000. And that the actual takehome would only be aroubd P14,000 to P15,000.
Valbuena also cited a study by the Ibon Foundation which showed that a family of six living in metropolitan Manila needs at least P1,040 a day to live decently.
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