Cayetano assures teachers of higher pay if elected as VP

MANILA, Philippines – Senator and vice presidential bet Alan Peter Cayetano Friday assured public school teachers of better salaries if he gets elected as the country’s next vice president.

Meeting with public school teachers during a “Ronda Serye” dialogue in Angeles City in Pampanga, Cayetano repeated his promise to sufficiently increase their salaries and benefits.

During the dialogue, the teachers shared with Cayetano their most basic concerns, such as low salaries and benefits, the absence of hazard pay, and insufficient pension allowances for retired educators.

Cayetano lamented that, despite the teachers’ important role in society, they only receive a minimum monthly salary of P18,549.

“Hindi dapat tinitipid ng gobyerno ang ating mga guro. Imbes na ginhawa, dagdag gulo sa buhay nila ang binibigay ng gobyerno dahil sa kawalan nito ng malasakit sa kanilang mga daing," Cayetano said.

“Real change cannot be achieved just by presenting promising platforms. Political will is needed,” he added.

Cayetano also said that out of all the candidates in the May polls, only he and his running mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte can offer this to Filipinos.

The senator assured that if elected, he and Duterte will work towards increasing the salaries of all teaching positions within three years.

Through this proposal, a teacher earning a basic salary of P18,549 will be able to take home P37,098 after the third year. They also vowed to ensure that the provisions of Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers will be properly implemented, especially the provision on hazard pay.

Cayetano earlier filed Senate Bill No. 94, which aims to grant public educators P10,000 worth of additional compensation. This includes an across-the-board allowance worth P9,000, plus other remuneration funded from local school board funds, a medical allowance of P1,000 per year, and the Magna Carta Bonus.

“Through these bold solutions, we will make sure that our teachers, who are the backbone of our education system, will not get left behind in terms of inclusive growth. Under a Duterte-Cayetano leadership and through our political will, everyone will have an opportunity to enjoy a better life,” Cayetano said.