SEVERAL lawmakers are urging their colleagues to approve measure upgrading the salary levels of public school teachers in basic education and teaching personnel in higher education to salary grade 15 and 16.

Representatives Ralph Wendell Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Edvic Yap and Eric Go Yap have filed House Bill 9418 aiming to help uplift teachers’ lives.

The solons stressed in their measure that public school teachers go the extra mile in committing their time, skills, expertise, and resources to be able to perform their duty of educating and molding the minds of the future generations, regardless of their own financial circumstances.

“Despite playing a key role in the growth of the community, teachers, and other education personnel struggle with poor salary and inadequate benefits from the government,” the lawmakers said.

The solons explained that the current salary level of public school teachers and teaching personnel in higher education often fall below the
living wage, considering the present economic challenges in the country.

Further, they added, the meager earnings received by our public school teachers may likely be a major disincentive for them to improve their skills in teaching.

They added that pursuing further education and training becomes difficult for educators due to lack of sufficient financial support.

Likewise, our educators decide to pursue their careers outside the country due to more competitive offers abroad.