ACT Teachers Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio decried what he described as the continued neglect of public school teachers’ pay, noting that their salaries have once again fallen behind those of nurses, soldiers, and police officers—despite comparable qualifications and demanding responsibilities.

In a statement, Tinio renewed his call for the immediate passage of House Bill No. 203, which seeks to raise the entry-level salary of public school teachers to P50,000.

“Napag-iwanan na naman ng sweldo ng nurse, pulis, at sundalo ang sweldo ng ating mga guro. This is a glaring injustice to the professionals who educate our children and shape the future of our nation,” Tinio said.

He pointed to what he called stark disparities in compensation among government workers.

A Nurse I under Salary Grade 15 receives P44,178 monthly, inclusive of allowances, while soldiers and police personnel under SG 11 earn more than P44,791 due to various benefits such as subsistence, quarters, clothing, hazard pay, and the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA).

By comparison, Tinio said a Teacher I under SG 11 receives only P33,705 a month, including PERA, despite having similar—or even higher—qualifications and equally demanding duties.

“Ang guro ay propesyonal na may lisensya, may patuloy na training requirements, at responsable sa kinabukasan ng libu-libong kabataan. Bakit napag-iiwanan sila sa sahod? This is an insult to the teaching profession,” he said.

Tinio stressed that a P50,000 entry-level salary should be seen as a necessity rather than a luxury, arguing that teachers deserve compensation that reflects their role in society.

“Ang P50,000 entry salary para sa guro ay hindi luho—ito ay pangangailangan. Kung kaya nating magbigay ng mas mataas na sahod sa iba, bakit hindi sa mga guro?” he said.

While acknowledging that police officers and soldiers also deserve higher pay, Tinio questioned why teachers have consistently been excluded from similar increases. He accused the government of misplaced priorities, claiming that funds are available for other expenditures but not for educators.

Tinio also warned of the human cost of low salaries, saying many teachers are forced to take on extra jobs, incur debt, or make personal sacrifices just to survive.

“Maraming guro ang nag-mumoonlight, nangungutang para lang mabuhay. Some skip meals or sacrifice their own children’s education. Teachers are drowning in debt, overworked, underpaid, and undervalued,” he said.

Speaking during a teachers’ protest in Mendiola, Tinio rejected claims that the government lacks funds to raise teachers’ pay, alleging that resources have instead been diverted to questionable expenditures.

“Huwag sabihing walang pera,” Tinio said, urging the administration to demonstrate its commitment to education through the national budget. “Taasan ang sahod ng guro. Itigil ang korupsyon. Unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan.”