ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Thursday called on the bicameral committee to include the salary increase budget for teachers in the 2024 national budget.

“Ang tagal ng inaantay ng mga guro na signipikanteng tumaas ang kanilang sahod dahil na din sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Sana ay hindi drawing o binola lang ang mga teachers sa pangakong ito at sana ay maisama sa panukalang 2024 budget ang dagdag sahod ng mga guro,” Castro said.

Castro earlier questioned the Department of Budget and Management and Governance Commission for Government-owned or Controlled Corporations over their non-existent study on the proposed salary increases for government workers under the 2024 national budget.

“Mukhang drawing ba ang sinasabi ng DBM na dagdag sahod sa mga government employees by 2024?” she asked.

“Kung babalikan natin yung amendments ng House of Representatives dito sa 2024 budget ay mukhang ni-reallocate na itong P17 billion na sinasabi ng DBM na earmark of salary increase na manggagaling sa MPBF or the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund,” Castro said.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the DBM allocated P16.95 billion to increase the monthly basic salary by two percent to eight percent for different positions in the government.

Castro expressed alarm as the DBM and GCG had yet to release the results of their study on the proposed salary hikes.

“Mukhang sa latest na report sa amin ay mukhang wala naman na nagaganap na pag-aaral… Dapat supposedly ang DBM ay magbigay ng paliwanag kaugnay nito,” Castro added.

It was reported last August that DBM allotted P48 million of the GCG’s budget to conduct a comprehensive study of the compensation and position classification system for government employees.

Castro said that the study should have been released last October.