DILG dismisses claim gov't prioritizes PNP salaries over public school teachers

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday belied the claim by a teachers' group that the administration is favoring the police and other uniformed personnel over public school teachers in terms of increasing their salaries.

"[T]he insinuation of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) that the President favors the police and other uniformed personnel over our public school teachers is entirely misplaced and is without basis. The administration recognizes the contribution of our teachers as stewards of our youth's future as much as we take cognizance of the hard work of our uniformed sector in protecting and securing our communities," DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

Año explained that the salaries of the police and uniformed personnel were increased first as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign promise in 2016, apart from their efforts against criminality, illegal drugs, communist insurgency, and upholding the national security.

Año also admitted that a pay hike for teachers will not be easy, as their number has grown to approximately 830,000 as opposed to only 170,000 police officers. He said it needed "careful consideration" because of its huge financial impact on the Filipino taxpayer.

"Nonetheless, the President has spoken and the administration is committed to deliver a pay hike to our public school teachers but it cannot be done overnight as claimed by the ACT. The Cabinet is now studying and looking for potential fund sources for the salary increase as directed by the President," Año said.

The DILG urged ACT to find ways and means to improve the delivery of education to students "instead of constantly criticizing government," and to be vigilant against the infiltration of the Communist Party of the Philippines through the Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan (KAGUMA). — MDM, GMA News