A TEACHERS’ group has thrown its full support behind proposed legislation seeking to substantially raise the salaries of public school teachers, describing the measures as long overdue and a test of political will for both Congress and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

House Bill No. 203, authored by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tino, proposes a ₱50,000 monthly salary for entry-level public school teachers. Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros has refiled a bill calling for a ₱15,000 across-the-board increase for all teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) hailed both measures as vital steps toward restoring dignity to the teaching profession.

“We welcome these bold proposals and challenge the leadership of both houses of Congress, as well as Malacañang, to act with urgency and sincerity. Our teachers have waited long enough. This is not asking for too much—it’s about recognition and fairness, beyond basic survival in today’s economy,” said TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas.

Basas stressed that the demand for a substantial salary hike is grounded in economic, historical, and moral imperatives.

“A Teacher I earning just over ₱30,000 a month can barely keep up with the rising cost of living. Our public school teachers are among the lowest paid in the government workforce and, sadly, among the lowest paid in Southeast Asia. That is a national shame,” Basas added.

The TDC also called on the government to pair any pay hike with reforms that address the broader challenges of public education.

“We need a comprehensive approach—one that protects teachers from abuse, ensures manageable class sizes, institutionalizes health benefits, provides adequate allowances, and, most importantly, allocates sufficient funds for all the necessities of basic education,” Basas explained, citing several pending bills that address these issues.

The group vowed to continue lobbying for teacher welfare and educational reforms in both chambers of Congress, urging the public to support their cause.