DBM reminded on teachers’ salary hike
THE Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) reminded the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of its promise of salary increase for government workers for fiscal year 2024.
Despite a self-imposed deadline to finalize and release the study by the end of June, the DBM has not made any announcement as of June 29.
“June 29 is the last day ,and the first and second quarters of the DBM’s timeline are over, yet there is still no news on the status of the 2024 salary increase,” said TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas.
The DBM and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) commissioned a consultancy firm to conduct a study that served as the basis for the planned salary adjustment for fiscal year 2024.
“During a meeting with our leaders in October 2023, DBM officials mentioned that a budget for the salary increase of government employees, including teachers, was allocated, but the amount would only range from 2 to 8% of current salaries,” Basas said.
The most recent salary increase for government workers was mandated under Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5, signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. This law raised the basic entry-level salaries of public school teachers to a meager P27,000 through phased implementation from 2020 to 2023.
“This situation clearly shows that the welfare of teachers and government employees is not a priority. It has taken so long to conduct a study for such a minimal increase, completely ignoring the substantial proposals pending in both houses of Congress,” Basas lamented.
The TDC has been advocating for substantial increase in salaries of teachers such as upgrading teachers’ entry-level salaries to at least salary grade 15, enacting a P15,000 across-the-board increase for teachers or any other proposal that would significantly enhance the living conditions of teachers and their families.
The group also criticized the existing salary scheme, the Salary Standardization Law (SSL), implemented since 1989, for its failure to provide adequate compensation to teachers.
