GOOD news to the nation’s more than 900,000 public school teachers. They are set to receive their P1,000 World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) today.
Congress has an itemized sum of P925 million that is meant to pay for the WTDIB of our teachers this year. The amount is specified in the 2022 General Appropriations Act.
A special provision in this year’s budget law stipulates that the money earmarked for the WTDIB will be released during the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration – which is today, Oct. 5.
We owe much of our achievements to the women and men whose perseverance, commitment and selfless dedication benefit not only our students but also society as a whole. Thus we should never take for granted the difference our mentors create in our lives. As we mark World Teachers’ Day today, we laud the dedication of those in the teaching profession and push for measures that would provide greater benefits for teachers.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Oct. 5 of every year as World Teachers’ Day to celebrate the crucial role of teachers in guiding children and adolescents through the learning process. Republic Act No. 10743 also declared Oct. 5 of every year as National Teachers’ Day to pay tribute to those engaged in the teaching profession.
Today’s observance marks the anniversary of the Oct. 5, 1966 global adoption of the UNESCO-International Labor Organization Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. The approved document proclaimed the international benchmarks on the rights and responsibilities of teachers. It also laid down the universal standards for the initial preparation, recruitment, employment and continuing education of teachers.
Our teachers, who continue to endure the dismal conditions of shortages in school facilities, meager benefits, hardships and sacrifices for the well-being of the youth, deserve worthy compensation, and not just verbal accolades, for their noble profession. They are instrumental in molding citizens who are part of nation-building. Thus, government, in turn, should guarantee them adequate support through the expansion of benefits and incentives, and the strengthening of professional development programs for teachers.
