BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Council has formally appealed to Congress to prioritize the passage of pending measures seeking substantial salary increases and enhanced benefits for public school teachers, underscoring the vital role of educators in nation-building.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently approved a resolution expressing strong support for several bills filed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate aimed at improving the compensation package of public school teachers nationwide.
Authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, the resolution urges both chambers of Congress, through Deputy Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and other concerned officials, to fast-track the enactment of the proposed measures into law.
“The welfare of our teachers should be a national priority,” Distrito said. “Despite rising living costs and increasing demands in the profession, many public school teachers continue to make personal sacrifices to ensure quality education for their students.”
Among the measures pending in the House of Representatives are:
*House Bill No. 203 – proposing a minimum monthly salary of P50,000 for public school teachers
*House Bill No. 535 – seeking to increase the salary grade of public school teachers from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 17
*House Bill No. 2801 – proposing an upgrade of the minimum salary grade of public school teachers from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15
*House Bill No. 5376 – seeking an across-the-board salary increase of P20,000 for public school teachers
The resolution likewise expressed support for counterpart measures pending in the Senate, namely:
*Senate Bill No. 211 – proposing a P15,000 increase in the salaries of public school teachers
*Senate Bill No. 335 – seeking a P10,000 increase in the basic monthly salary of public school teachers
*Senate Bill No. 362 – proposing a P20,000 salary increase for teachers
*Senate Bill No. 1408 – seeking an across-the-board salary increase of P10,000 for public school teachers
Distrito said increasing teachers’ salaries would not only help address the financial challenges faced by educators but would also recognize their invaluable contribution to shaping future generations.
“Teachers remain the backbone of our educational system. They deserve compensation that reflects the dignity, importance, and value of their work,” he added.
The resolution cited Article XIV, Section 5(5) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates the State to give the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching attracts and retains highly qualified individuals through adequate remuneration and other forms of job satisfaction.
The Bacolod City Council emphasized that investing in teachers translates to better educational outcomes and stronger national development.
“When we uplift our teachers, we strengthen our schools, empower our learners, and secure a better future for our nation,” Distrito said./PN
