Good news for public school teachers and non-teaching personnel.
If the proposed measure of Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian becomes a law, the minimum salary of teachers in public elementary and high schools will almost be doubled all over the country.
Gatchalian, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, filed House Bill No. 5731 that seeks an increase in the current minimum salary of public school teachers from P18,549 to at least P31,351.
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The former Valenzuela City mayor also proposed that non-teaching personnel in all public elementary and high school institutions will get at least P16,051 from the current minimum salary of P9,000.
Gatchalian, a member for the House Committees on Basic Education and Culture as well as on Higher and Technical Education, explained that increasing the salary of teachers is only an appropriate gesture of appreciation for their vital role in enhancing the skills of the youth and nation-building.
“Public school teachers deserve the praise they get for the significant role they play in molding the character and minds of our youth and shaping our country,” Gatchalian said.
“Yet, despite them being hailed as heroes, our public school teachers still appeared to be neglected because of the low salaries they receive,” he added.
Under his HB 5731, Gatchalian wants to augment the compensation of teaching and non-teaching staff in basic education to salary grade 18 from 11and to salary grade 9 from 1, respectively.
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The bill also seeks to adjust salary compensation of staff in higher position.
Aside from increasing the salary of teaching and non-teaching staff, HB 5731 will also task the Department of Education or DepEd to create a performance-based incentive system, which can grant an additional amount of P5,000 to teaching and non-teaching personnel covered by this Act.
“HB 5731 will remedy the decline in the teaching profession as the proposed legislation aims to make teaching a viable career for the best and the brightest among the youth,” said Gatchalian.
Gatchalian said his proposed measure also aims to fight brain drain, which resulted in the loss of our young and talented instructors as Filipino teachers choose to work abroad in search of a better opportunity for their family.
He also recognizes the relentless contribution of non-teaching personnel in public schools, who render invaluable service to ensure that quality education is available and easily accessible to all.
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Gatchalian said his bill will give flesh and blood to Section 5 (5) Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that “the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education” and will “ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”
Under Gatchalian’s bill, teaching personnel who may get the salary increase should belong to the public education sector, including locally-funded teachers or those hired and paid for, whether fully or partially, by local government units (LGUs) or any local entity in accordance with the rules and regulation issued by DepEd.
Also included in the salary increase are instructors under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program of DepEd and the Philippine Science High School System.
School-based supervisory, managerial, administrative, or technical functions in the public education sector as well as officials and employees of DepEd who are not included in the public education sector will also receive salary increase under HB 5731. (Tim Alcantara)
