Duterte willing to strike a deal with teachers over pay hike

President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated on Thursday his commitment to increase the salary of public school teachers, but did not say how much.

Speaking at the groundbreaking of a high school in Bulakan, Bulacan, Duterte called for a meeting with teachers and Education Secretary Leonor Briones to discuss the matter.

"I am willing to strike a deal in the presence of Secretary Briones sa mga maestra. You can choose the date, January, bilisan lang ninyo, then we can make even an agreement or manifesto or choose whatever kind of document. Kayo ang isusunod ko this year," Duterte said.

Duterte's pronouncement was met with cheers.

Teachers have been asking for a pay raise after Congress approved a 100-percent increase in the base pay of military and other uniformed personnel which took effect last year.

The President said in May last year that salary of more than 800,000 teachers cannot be doubled as they would have wanted since there was not enough resources for it. 

Doubling the salaries of public school teachers will require an additional P343.7 billion, equivalent to two percent of the country's gross domestic product, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which warned of a credit rating downgrade as a result of an unmanageable deficit.

The DBM also cautioned against sacrificing spending for budget priorities such as infrastructure development, free college tuition, and cash transfer programs. —LDF, GMA News