QUEZON City 5th District Representative PM Vargas has urged swift action to address challenges faced by Filipino educators, particularly the shortage of teaching personnel and widespread job insecurity among volunteer teachers, as the nation marks National Teachers’ Day on October 5.

Among his proposals is the Distant Public School Teachers Incentive Bill, which seeks to provide a monthly allowance for teachers assigned to far-flung or remote schools.

Vargas explained that the measure recognizes the sacrifices of teachers who spend long hours commuting to distant schools, often at the expense of family time and access to adequate resources.

He also filed the Plantilla Positions for Volunteer Teachers Bill, which mandates the creation of permanent positions for volunteer teachers who have served continuously for at least five years.

“The success of education outcomes rests on sufficient resources and facilities. The persistent shortage of teachers reflects not only a policy gap but also a lack of genuine gratitude for their service,” Vargas said.

According to him, between 2022 and 2023, the number of teachers, teaching-related, and non-teaching staff dropped by 38,000.

Currently, around 150,000 positions remain unfilled, with many of these roles temporarily covered by volunteer and contractual workers.

Marking National Teachers’ Day, Vargas appealed to his fellow lawmakers to support his proposed measures and finally resolve long-standing issues of teacher shortages and precarious employment in the education sector.