SENATOR Joel Villanueva paid tribute to the country’s teachers and underscored the need to translate recognition for their service into concrete and sustained support for their welfare.

In a video message for the Department of Education’s World Teachers’ Day celebration at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday, Villanueva expressed his gratitude to thousands of teachers gathered for the occasion, as well as to the entire DepEd family led by Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara.

“Maraming, maraming salamat po sa lahat ng inyong mga sakripisyo, dedikasyon, at pagmamahal para sa kabataang Pilipino,” Villanueva said.

“Lagi ko pong sinasabi na ang kabataan ang may-ari ng ating kinabukasan. Pero kayo pong mga guro ang humuhubog sa mga kamay na hahawak nito,” he added.

Villanueva, co-chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2), said he would continue to push for measures providing additional support to educators and education personnel, including Senate Bill No. 1606, or the proposed Allowances for Public Basic Education Personnel Act.

The bill proposes a P3,000 quarterly grocery and transportation allowance and a P2,000 quarterly medical allowance for public basic education personnel.

The proposed amounts would be adjusted every three years to account for inflation.

Villanueva emphasized that such assistance should be institutionalized so that support for education workers would not depend solely on the availability of funds or administrative discretion.

The bill also recognizes the important role of non-teaching personnel, whose work is essential to keeping public schools functioning and allowing teachers to focus on their primary responsibility of teaching.

As the son of public school teachers, Villanueva said he understands the aspirations of educators and their desire to see the country’s education system continuously improve.

“Saludo po tayo sa ating mga guro at teaching personnel. Pero higit sa palakpak, bigyan natin sila ng benepisyo at suporta, dahil ang nag-aalaga sa ating kinabukasan, dapat inaalagaan din,” Villanueva said.