Hontiveros seeks bigger pay, better benefits for teachers

Senator Risa Hontiveros marked National Teachers’ Month by renewing her call for a P15,000 across-the-board monthly salary increase for public school teachers and personnel, along with expanded health benefits and protection of their pension contributions.

She is championing two measures in the Senate: the Dagdag Sahod for Public Basic Education Teachers and Employees Act (Senate Bill 211), which mandates the salary hike, and the Healthy Buhay at Hanapbuhay Para sa Guro Act (Senate Bill 575), which provides discounts, tax exemptions, and expanded health services for educators.

“Ang mga guro natin, araw-araw nagbubuhos ng oras, pagod, at pagmamahal para sa ating kabataan. Kaya bilang pasasalamat, gusto kong mabigyan sila ng umento sa sahod para naman mas guminhawa ang buhay nila,” Hontiveros said in a statement Friday.

Under SB 211, the proposed P15,000 salary hike will be rolled out in three tranches—P6,000 in the first year, P5,000 in the second, and P4,000 in the third.

Meanwhile, SB 575 seeks to grant all teachers a 10 percent discount and VAT exemption on medicines and essential health products, free PhilHealth coverage, medical assistance from government agencies, and access to teacher-exclusive health centers and special wards in Department of Health hospitals. It also proposes five days of annual mental health and wellness leave.

Hontiveros also raised concern over the security of teachers’ pension funds, stressing the importance of ensuring a comfortable retirement for educators after decades of service.

“Sa pagbibigay umento sa kanilang sahod, pagdadagdag ng kanilang benepisyo at pagbabantay sa kanilang pensyon, mapapakita natin na ang mga guro natin ay pinapahalagahan, hindi lang tuwing Teachers’ Day kundi everyday,” she said.