Bonus for World Teachers’ Day a hard-fought ‘consolation’
A HOUSE lawmaker representing teachers said on Wednesday that the P1,000 bonus to be given in commemoration of World Teacher’s Day should be given to educators themselves who called for its inclusion in the 2021 national budget instead of to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
This comes after the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Tuesday that Mr. Duterte has approved the release of P910 million for the benefit.
“There would not even be a World Teachers’ Day incentive if not for the loud clamor of public school teachers in last year’s budget deliberations,” ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in a statement.
She added that Mr. Duterte cannot use the P1,000 bonus to “save face” as teachers continue to demand for a substantial salary increase, adding that the incentive is just a “consolation” for the sector.
Ms. Castro also stressed that the current P5,000 cash allowance given to public school teachers for School Year 2021-2022 by DepEd is not enough. ACT Teachers is pushing for a P5,000 teaching supplies allowance, P10,000 internet allowance for the whole school year, and P500 medical check-up for every teacher.
“We continue to fight for a substantial salary increase for our teachers and other government employees, adequate benefits, sufficient support in the implementation of the blended distance learning and ample aid amid the continuing worsening economic and health crisis in the country,” she said. — Russell Louis C. Ku
