Press Release
October 1, 2014

ANGARA PUSHES FOR WAGE HIKE, ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS

Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday has pushed anew for the passage of his bills that seek higher salaries and additional benefits for public school teachers in the country.

Angara has filed Senate Bill 61 that aims to upgrade the salary grade level of teachers from SG 11 to 19, nearly doubling their current monthly base pay from P18,549 to P33,859.

Aside from salary increase, the senator has also filed SB 200 that seeks to extend teachers' benefits, such as scholarship grants and free medical treatment under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers or Republic Act 4670, to their dependents.

Under the proposed measure, dependents are also entitled to a monthly pension in case the teacher suffers from a permanent partial or total disability.

The bill defines qualified dependents as a teacher's child not more than 21 years old or incapable of self-support because of physical defect regardless of age, who is not married nor gainfully employed, and is still living or dependent upon the teacher for support.

Moreover, SB 200 encourages teachers to form cooperatives in their municipalities to promote their economic welfare.

"Teachers are the unsung heroes of our time. The academic achievements of students are celebrated, but no proper recognition is given to the teachers who molded these students and played a major role in their scholastic advancement," said Angara, a known advocate of educational reforms.

"Recognition in the form of higher pay and additional benefits will attract highly competent individuals to become public school teachers. Our proposed measures will also help them cope with the spiraling cost of living, improve their morale, and motivate them to become better and more effective educators," he added.

The lawmaker, who has filed the two measures since his days in Congress, stressed that providing well-deserved support to the financially burdened teachers will redound to a long-term benefit for the country.

"By attracting and retaining able educators, we can ensure quality education for our youth, and a better and enlightened future generation of Filipinos," Angara said.

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