Press Release
April 22, 2016

Cayetano meets up with Pampanga teachers; reiterates promise to increase their salaries, allowances

Stressing that there is a need to ease the burden and suffering of public school teachers in the country, vice presidential bet and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his call to sufficiently increase their salaries and benefits.

As part of their continuing "Ronda-Serye" listening tour, Cayetano on Friday (April 22) met with local public school teachers from Angeles City, Pampanga, where he presented to them the bold solutions that he and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, plan to implement if elected.

During the dialogue, the teachers shared with him their most basic concerns, such as low salaries and benefits, the absence of a hazard pay, and insufficient pension allowances for retired educators.

Cayetano for his part lamented that, despite the teachers' important role in society, they only receive a minimum monthly salary of P18,549. "Hindi dapat tinitipid ng gobyerno ang ating mga guro. Imbes na ginhawa, dagdag gulo sa buhay nila ang binibigay ng gobyerno dahil sa kawalan nito ng malasakit sa kanilang mga daing," Cayetano said.

"Real change cannot be achieved just by presenting promising platforms. Political will is needed," he added, stressing that out of all the candidates in the May polls, only he and Duterte can offer this to the people.

The senator assured that if elected, he and Duterte will work towards increasing the salaries of all teaching positions within three years. Through this proposal, a teacher earning a basic salary of P18,549 will be able to take home P37,098 after the third year. They also vowed to ensure that the provisions of Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers will be properly implemented, especially the provision on hazard pay.

Cayetano earlier filed Senate Bill No. 94, which aims to grant public educators P10,000 worth of additional compensation. This includes an across-the-board allowance worth P9,000, plus other remuneration funded from local school board funds, a medical allowance of P1,000 per year, and the Magna Carta Bonus.

"Through these bold solutions, we will make sure that our teachers, who are the backbone of our education system, will not get left behind in terms of inclusive growth. Under a Duterte-Cayetano leadership and through our political will, everyone will have an opportunity to enjoy a better life," Cayetano ended.

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