During President Rodrigo Duterte’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 he expressed his will to see an increase in salaries for public school teachers and other government workers. This salary increase would be implemented under a fifth round of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL), which aims to raise the standard pay for concerned workers.
Photo from Educo.org
President Duterte called for Congress to pass measures which would raise the pay for government workers, especially teachers:
I therefore believe that it is now time for Congress to approve a new version of the Salary Standardization Law, ngayon na.
To the teachers who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, kasali na po dito ‘yung hinihingi niyo…hindi masyadong malaki pero it will tide you overduring this hard time.
This is intended to increase salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses. [To the teachers who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, what you have been asking for is included here. It may not be that large but it will tide you over.]Â
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III has already guaranteed that the necessary adjustments within the national budget are possible. He explained in an interview with Inquirer that “[the Philippine government] normally waits three to four years before moving to SSL 5. However, the President decided to propose the SSL. We have done the numbers… and we can afford it.”
(LOOK: Teachers in Leyte Have to Climb Up Mountains Just to Send Requirements Online)
However, this news has not been well-received on all fronts. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers – Philippines (ACT) has spoken out against the minimal hike in salary. They stand true to their belief that: “‘A little bit bigger’ will not afford us decent lives and will not bring dignity to our profession.”
(Senate Bill Pushes for Increasing Teachers’ Salaries to P42k)
https://www.facebook.com/actph1982/posts/2527417070630802
How do you feel about this proposed salary hike?Â
