ACT TEACHERS Partylist Representative France Castro urged the government anew to increase the pay of teachers as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his speech in Valenzuela City on March 4, 2021, the President once again promised a substantial wage increase for teachers, which he said was “foiled” by the Covid19 pandemic.

“Our teachers cannot accept the excuse of having the Covid19 pandemic hitting for not being able to substantially increase their salaries,” Castro said.

“Mayroong napakalaking budget na P19 bilyon ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict kahit na may Covid pandemic pero ‘pag sa suweldo, benepisyo at pangunahing pangangailangan ng edukasyon para sa ligtas at kalidad na edukasyon, walang pera dahil sa Covid?” she asked.

Castro pointed out that the salary increase for teachers was one of Duterte’s campaign promises.

“Tumaas na ang presyo ng langis, galunggong at iba pang mga pangunahing bilihin. Kailan na ang pangakong subsantial na taas-suweldo ng mga guro at kawani?” she asked.

The lawmaker said that with distance learning, teachers had to shell out their own money for the purchase of laptops, printers and other gadgets.