A MAKATI City lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to increase to P3,000 the annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB) payable to every public school teacher employed by the Department of Education.

Under House Bill No. 7840 filed by Campos, the WTDIB would be bumped up from P1,000 to P3,000.

“Our bill merely seeks to augment the value of the WTDIB and make permanent via legislation the grant of the incentive benefit,” Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., House appropriations committee vice chairperson, said.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee underscored the importance of educators’ role in achieving a better future by starting with shaping the principles and mindset of the youth.

During the recent Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council meeting of Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCAARRD), Lee imparted his insights on the perennial problems of the agriculture sector and the country before Presidents of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), teachers, researchers and representatives from non-government organizations, and national government agencies.

“Sa akin pong pag-iikot, ako po ay nakakaramdam ng matinding lungkot—lungkot dahil sa mga nakikita nating paghihirap ng marami nating kababayan. Ang ating mga magsasaka, pinapaaral ang mga anak sa Maynila, na ang kabilin-bilinan ay mag-aral nang mabuti at huwag nang bumalik sa pinanggalingan para huwag nang maging katulad nilang magsasaka lamang,” said Lee.

“Masisisi ba natin sila, kung wala naman silang kinikita? Kung hindi pa nga sumisikat ang araw hanggang sa tirik na ang araw ay nasa sakahan sila, at pagkatapos ng lahat ng hirap, hindi pa nga anihan ay baon na sila sa utang,” he added.

According to Lee, there is no one to blame in this dire situation but ourselves, because as Filipinos, we tend to be tolerant, and forgiving and are already thankful for meager service from the government.

“Masaya na tayo at sobra-sobra ang ating pasasalamat kung tayo ay nabibigyan ng konting ayuda. Kulang na lang sambahin natin ang nagbigay sa atin. Hindi ba natin naiisip na ‘yan ay pera natin, ‘yan ay pera ng taumbayan?” Lee pointed out.

“Dapat na po nating baguhin ang kultura ng ‘pwede na, ok na yan.’ Dapat na nating itaas ang ating standards o scorecard para sa mga nasa
pamahalaan,” he added.

Lee then posed a challenge to SUC Presidents, teachers, and the academe as a whole in fulfilling their role since education is key in empowering the youth to be responsible and compassionate citizens.

“Lahat po ng ito ay nagsisimula sa atin pong mga paaralan, sa ating mga kabataan. Ang sabi po ni Gat Jose Rizal, ‘ang kabataan ang pag-asa
ng bayan’. Ang sa akin naman, ‘ang pag-asa ng bayan ay nasa mga guro.’

The future is the youth, but this future is shaped by our teachers,” the solon from Sorsogon said.

“As educators, it is upon you to make meaningful change happen. You have to produce graduates who not only have the brains to build a better world but also the hearts to give back to the poor. The future we want to create is not just a more intelligent, advanced world but more importantly, a more caring, sharing community,” he added.

The lawmaker further reiterated that SUC graduates are expected to serve the people, especially the poor, and to ease their plight and improve their lives because every peso spent for their education is a peso deprived of the service for the poor.

“Ang free education po na ibinibigay ng mga SUCs ay hindi libre. Sa bawat piso na napunta sa edukasyon na ibinibigay ninyo, isang piso yan na nawala sa isang may sakit na hindi kayang bumili ng gamot; isang piso yan na nawala sa isang homeless na hindi kayang magbayad ng upa o magpatayo ng sariling bahay; isang piso na nawala sa isang magsasaka na kahit na food producer, ay hindi kayang bumili ng pagkain para sa pamilya,” Lee said.

“Ang susi para maging Winner Tayo Lahat ay ang pagmamalasakit at pinagsamang lakas ng kabataan at mga guro. Panahon na para ang bawat isa sa atin ay hindi maging pabigat sa isa’t isa. Lahat ng ito ay nagsisimula sa paaralan. Kaya para sa akin, malinaw na malinaw po na Kayo, ang aming mga guro, ang tunay na pag-asa ng bayan,” he added.

Campos invoked the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the State “to ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”

At present, public school teachers receive only P1,000 every year as their WTDIB.

The incentive benefit is currently being paid to them every October 5, which is celebrated annually as World Teachers’ Day to pay tribute to those engaged in the teaching profession.

Public school teachers first enjoyed the WTDIB four years ago, when Congress inserted the incentive benefit as an item in the 2019 national budget with initial funding of P800 million.

This year, the incentive benefit has funding of P900 million in the 2023 General Appropriations Law.

Congress has provided an aggregate of P4.4 billion in funding for the WTDIB since 2019, according to Campos.