SENATOR Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao on Tuesday vowed to double the salary of public school teachers if he wins the presidential elections in May.

He also vowed to intervene to improve the living standards of teachers in the private sector to restore dignity in the teaching profession.

Pacquiao lamented that over the years, the living standard of teachers had deteriorated, with many of them borrowing money from loan sharks.

“Sobrang napabayaan na ng pamahalaan ang ating mga guro. Noong araw, ang pagiging guro ay isang position of dignity and respect pero parang nawawala na ito dahil napakarami sa ating mga guro ang naghihikahos kaya napipipilitan na pumasok sa mga sitwasyon na nakakawala ng dignidad,” the senator said.

“Marami sa ating mga teachers ang nagiging biktima ng mga pyramiding schemes at marami sa kanila ang baon sa utang dahil sa five-six. Hindi dapat nangyayari ito sa kanila dahil sila ang nagbibigay ng karunungan sa ating mga anak. Kailangang bigyan natin sila ng malasakit at ibalik sa kanila ang kanilang dignidad,” he added.

Pacquiao said that he will ask Congress to review the labor standards in private schools. He also plans to ask the National Wages and Productivity Commission and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to revamp the minimum wage for teachers.