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MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday said that public school teachers’ pay would increase if not double, reassuring that “it will happen during his administration.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said that the government has no idea on when it will happen as the provision for it was not included in the 2018 national budget.
“Well, it’s very clear. He asked his Cabinet members to find ways to increase the salary of teachers…I’m unequivocally stating that the President ordered everyone to study how to increase the salary of teachers,” Roque said.
“We don’t even know when but he has asked them to look for ways and means to increase the salary of teachers,” Roque added.
Earlier, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has u-turned from the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte of increasing the teacher’s salary, saying it’s not yet a government “priority.”
“I think that is not a priority at this time. Our priority is ‘Build, Build, Build’ and the social protection, taking care of the poor,” Diokno said.
However, Roque said Duterte is keeping with his promises on the salary increase.
“But what you need to note is that the President says he wants to increase the salary of teachers he does not go back on his promises he will increase the salary of teachers by as much as we can,” Roque said.
“The intention is there. It will not be taken back,” he added.
It can be recalled that Roque said Duterte ordered the budget department to find means to increase public school teachers’ pay under the second package of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
“Judging by what he wanted for the PNP and AFP, it could also be that he is aiming for the doubling the salary of teachers,” Roque said.
However, Diokno said doubling the pay of public school teachers will require an additional P337 billion on the part of government