Cebu City teachers seek P2T allowance

CEBU, Philippines - The Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Cebu City is requesting the city council to legislate an ordinance granting a P2,000 allowance for the cost of living of public school teachers.

In her September 19 letter to Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, ACT-Cebu City chapter president Antonia Lim said there are at least 2,200 public school teachers in the city who are hoping that the request for the P2,000 allowance would be made official through an ordinance.

"We are very much hopeful in requesting your good office to sponsor a City Ordinance granting P2,000 Supplemental Allowance for public school teachers to be sourced from the city's general fund," Lim said.

In her letter, Lim explained that the entry level salary of a teacher is only P18,549.

With the additional P2,000, which she said can be sourced out from the city's Special Education Fund, it could augment the financial capability of the teachers considering the increasing cost of raising a family and living in a highly-urbanized city.

Sought for comment, Osmeña said she has yet to read the letter of ACT.

Osmeña, deputy mayor for budget and finance matters, said her office will review the proposal.

Lim attached the July 4-resolution of ACT region-7 in her letter to the councilor.

In the resolution, the alliance said the compensation of the public school teachers is known to be "far way below the poverty level" and could not cope with the raising standard cost of living.

"The increase in the basic salaries of teachers last year was not adequate to meet the ever increasing prices of basic commodities that are necessary to sustain a decent and standard life for teachers," the resolution reads.

Also, the resolution noted that other highly-urbanized cities in the National Capital Region and Bacolod City are giving P1,500 to P3,000 monthly allowance, rice subsidy/quarter and grocery allowance to public school teachers in their jurisdiction as means of giving high respect and concern to the teachers. 

ACT acknowledged that the city used to give P2,000 cost of living allowance to public school teachers.

However, the Commission on Audit issued a notice of disallowance to the city government for the P80.5 million payment on the cost of living allowance and hardship and clothing allowance of public school teachers last year. (FREEMAN)