SENATORIAL aspirant and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda took up the challenge of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines to senatorial candidates to include the concerns of teachers and the education sector in their legislative agenda.

The group cited five major points that must be urgently addressed — upgrading of salaries of teachers and non-teaching staff; safe, accessible, and quality education; effective pandemic response; dignity of work; and respect and protection of democratic rights.

“Our goal is to highlight the value of teachers, the essential role they play in the development of the youth, and guarantee them adequate support through the expansion of benefits and incentives, and the strengthening of professional development programs for educators,” Legarda said.

“The value of their commitment to mold the character and values of the youth despite challenges in our education system, cannot be overemphasized,” she added.

The lawmaker admitted that there is really need to upgrade the educational system.

Legarda said she pushed for the increase in cash allowance of teachers in the previous years — from P1,500 in 2015 to P2,500 and P3,500 in 2017 and 2018.

As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, she asponsored the allocation of an additional P800 million under the budget of the Department of Education in the 2019 General Appropriations Act to provide each public school teacher a P1,000 incentive every 5th of October, in celebration of World Teachers’ Day.

In partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines, she initiated and funded the Education Training Capability Seminars for DepEd Supervisors in Antique.

The program aims to enhance the leadership and management competencies of educators.