Press Release
June 30, 2012

Trillanes seeks to hike basic pay of public school teachers

Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV has filed a bill seeking to raise the minimum pay of public school teachers to salary grade 20 or equivalent to P36,567.00 per month, in accordance with the 4th tranche of the implementation of the Salary Standardization Law scheduled this month.

At present, the basic salary of public school teachers is pegged at grade 11 or about P18,549.00 a month, but Trillanes wants an increase as a way of paying tribute to their important contribution in educating the youth and to provide them with decent pay commensurate to the sacrifices they make in educating the country's youth.

"Public school teachers are looked upon and heralded as molders of our youth and prime movers of the education system. Yet, they are among the most underpaid professionals in the country," Trillanes said. "Thus, it is but imperative and necessary to upgrade the salary grade of our public school teachers in recognition of the significant and very critical role they play in our society," Trillanes said.

Trillanes' proposed legislation requires the Department of Education (DepEd) to draw up a specific programmed budget to cover the cost of upgrading the salary levels of all teacher plantilla positions over the next three years.

According to the senator, this will also enable the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to make the necessary adjustment to facilitate the smooth implementation of the salary hike, subject to the rules and regulations to be crafted by both the budget and education departments.

Trillanes, however, clarified that any pay adjustment should be pursued based on the qualifications and length of service rendered by public school teachers and should not be prejudiced by any across the board adjustments.

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