Legarda Bats for Improved Benefits for Teachers on World Teachers’ Day

In celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October 5, Senator Loren Legarda lauded the dedication of those in the teaching profession and pushed for the approval of a measure that would provide greater benefits for teachers.

“We should never take for granted the difference our mentors created in our lives. A sincere appreciation of their work by sending our personal thanks to them would inspire them and uplift their morale. But we should also pursue the changes we eagerly want for our teachers especially through improved benefits and other privileges,” said Legarda.

The Senator said that teachers are instrumental in molding citizens who are part of nation-building. Thus, government, in turn, should guarantee them adequate support through the expansion of benefits and incentives, and the strengthening of professional development programs for teachers.

“We owe much of our achievements to the women and men whose perseverance, commitment and selfless dedication benefit not only our students but also society as a whole,” she said.

Legarda has been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 36, known as the “Integrated Magna Carta of Teachers and Non-Teaching Personnel”, which seeks to strengthen and amend certain provisions of Republic Act No. 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.

SBN 36 seeks to attract more teachers and non-teaching personnel of competent and efficient skills by providing, among others, an annual salary increase to mitigate the effects of inflation, security payment of their salaries on a monthly basis regardless of semestral or summer vacations, and gratuity benefit for those who choose to retire before reaching the compulsory age of 60 and have rendered at least two years of service.

The proposed measure further grants teachers and employees’ organizations the “right to self-organization and to collective bargaining, whether independent or federated, and the right to negotiate directly with school owners and administrators.”

The Senator also emphasized that with a number of provisions in the existing Magna Carta for Public School Teachers still unimplemented or under-implemented, there is a demand not only to revisit the vintage law, but also to actualize the supposed benefits that teachers must have been enjoying for decades since it was enacted.

“Our teachers, who continue to endure the dismal conditions of shortages in school facilities, meager benefits, hardships and sacrifices for the well being of the youth, deserve worthy compensation, and not just verbal accolades, for their noble profession,” Legarda concluded.