MANILA— To make good on their promise to fast-track the increase in benefits and allowances for public school teachers in Quezon City, the Quezon City Council on Monday passed on second reading an ordinance increasing the longevity pay of public school teachers from PHP100 to PHP400 for every five years.
“Education is one of our highest priorities in the city, and it is only right that we invest in our public school teachers. This is why the council has been expediting the approval of additional benefits – such as this longevity pay – to help our teachers,” Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, who presides over the city council, said in an ambush interview.
Authored by Councilor Victor V. Ferrer, Jr., the proposed ordinance amends Ordinance No. SP-1407, S-2004 in a bid to “uplift the living conditions” of the city’s public school teachers.
Under the ordinance, the longevity pay of public school teachers in Quezon City will be increased from PHP100 for every five years of continuous service to PHP400 for the same duration.
The increase will apply prospectively to public school teachers who shall have rendered at least five years of continuous service within Quezon City.
For teachers with at least 10 years of service, a gap of one year of service is allowed provided that the gap year was done “on account of medical or grave personal problems”.
The budget for the increase will be appropriated from the city’s General Fund or Special Fund.
“We know that our public school teachers are, like all of us, wrestling with the effects of inflation. Right now, they are also dealing with big classes, long hours, and lack of equipment. These problems in our schools are things we want to help address in the long run, but right now, we are first pushing for additional benefits,” Belmonte added.
As presiding officer of the city council, Belmonte backed the speedy approval of several ordinances concerning increases in teachers’ allowances.
Last October 2, Mayor Herbert Bautista approved Ordinance No. 2751 to raise the monthly supplemental allowance from PHP1,000 to PHP1,500 for national paid public school teaching and non-teaching personnel in Quezon City.
The council has also proposed to increase the quarterly rice allowance from PHP1,500 to PHP2,000 for teaching and non-teaching staff.