Duterte on teachers’ pay hike: It's coming, I'm sure of that

President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday that the promised salary increase for public school teachers will be granted within the year.

At a press conference in Davao City during his return from Russia, Duterte said the pay hike for teachers would not be 100 percent, the rate of increase for soldiers and cops in 2018.

But “It’s coming, ang increases nila. But hindi double. Mas marami ang teacher ... The last time they [Cabinet members] were discussing was about 35 percent. It could be more, I don’t know,” he said.

The president added he will not give a definite timeline for the increase.

“If I give you the timeline tapos I could not make it on the deadline, I have to explain more than what is expected of government. Mas mabuti kung nandyan na. Basta sinasabi ko may increase this year, I am very sure of that.”

On Friday, Senators vowed to prioritize the salary increase for teachers as the nation celebrated National Teacher’s Day.

Teachers from all over the country have been photographing themselves in a “30k” formation to put across their call for a pay hike.

 

Last Monday, public school teachers lined up to form a "30k" mark at the Carlos Albert High School in Quezon City as they kicked off a two-week campaign to assert the minimum monthly salary they need. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LBG, GMA News