REPRESENTATIVES ANTONIO L. Tinio and France L. Castro of party-list ACT Teachers have reiterated demands for the immediate salary increase for all government employees in 2019 instead of 2022. The lawmakers, with the group All Government Employees (GE) Unity, are calling for a P16,000 starting salary for civilian personnel, P30,000 for entry-level public school teachers and nurses, and P31,000 for Instructor I in state universities and colleges (SUCs). “Our government employees can no longer wait for two more years. Salary increases for public schoolteachers and other government employees is urgently needed,” Mr. Tinio said in a press statement. He cited that the recent implementation of the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law has caused price spikes “which are unrelentingly hitting Filipinos now, especially the majority who are poor.” Ms. Castro said: “The doubling of the basic pay of military and uniformed personnel was swiftly enacted with the certification of urgency from the President and the joint resolution of Congress. Our civilian personnel deserve nothing less.” The party-list lawmakers announced plans to conduct a protest on Feb. 21 to call for the salary increases. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

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