ACT Teachers Party-list Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio lauded House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing for her commitment to raising teachers’ salaries, but underscored that educators will be closely monitoring the Marcos administration to ensure delivery.
The statement came after a dialogue between teachers and House leaders, including Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, where Suansing revealed that her committee already has a proposal for a salary increase. She cited her own measure, House Bill No. 6252, which seeks to upgrade the minimum monthly salary of public school teachers from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 19.
“We appreciate Chair Suansing’s openness and her concrete legislative track record on this issue. She filed HB 6252 as early as the 19th Congress and refiled it in the 20th Congress, which shows consistency in pushing for higher teacher pay,” Tinio said.
Tinio noted that with Speaker Dy’s backing, Suansing’s proposal could even surpass the ₱50,000 monthly salary currently being advocated by teachers, since Salary Grade 19 offers higher compensation depending on the step.
“This is a welcome development, and we look forward to seeing this translated into actual budget allocation and implementation,” Tinio remarked.
Still, Tinio cautioned against complacency, stressing that educators have heard similar promises in the past.
“Teachers will follow this issue very carefully. The Marcos administration must deliver promptly. Hindi puwedeng pangako lang nang pangako habang naghihirap ang mga guro at kawani sa mababang sahod,” he said.
He also highlighted Suansing’s acknowledgment of teachers’ sacrifices during the pandemic, when many used their own salaries to shoulder costs for printing, laptops, and internet connectivity to sustain instruction.
“Narinig natin mula sa Committee on Appropriations na naiintindihan nila ang sakripisyo ng mga guro. Pero kailangang may katuparan ang pagkilala na ito sa pamamagitan ng dagdag-sahod at mas mataas na benepisyo,” Tinio emphasized.
Calling on the administration to embed the salary hike in the upcoming national budget, Tinio urged that any increase be substantial enough to bring teachers closer to a living wage.
“Panahon na para itaas ang sahod ng guro. Guro naman. The administration has the numbers in Congress. It has the opportunity in the budget. What it needs now is the political will to make it happen,” Tinio concluded. # (ZIA LUNA)
