MANILA — The government stays committed to ensuring that public school teachers are amply provided with resources to carry out their vocation, President Ferdinand R. Marcos said on Thursday, October 3.
In his speech, the President stressed that supporting teachers remains as one of the key priorities of the government, recognizing and proactively addressing the “difficult realities” that Filipino teachers face.
“We are committed to ensuring that you have ample resources to teach—whether by additional materials, reducing non-teaching — and or reducing non-teaching responsibilities,” the President said during the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Celebration in Quezon City.
President Marcos highlighted significant measures the government has undertaken to transform the lives of over 860,000 public school teachers.
This included Executive Order No. 174, which established the Expanded Career Progression System for public school teachers. This policy allows them to pursue either teaching or leadership track as they get higher positions.
The President also mentioned the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, allotting a tax-free teaching allowance of P5,000 this year for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials.
According to the President, this will be increased to P10,000 next school year.
“Sa aming pananaw, hindi — ang tingin namin hindi ito financial aid. Ito’y nakakasiguro — this makes sure and ensures that you have the tools that are necessary for your effective teaching,” he said.
Teachers are also included in the increase of salaries of government employees and delivery of a medical allowance worth P7,000 under Executive Order No. 64.
Public educators are also covered under the Personal Accident Insurance Policy of the GSIS.
Efforts to ensure fair and equitable distribution of teaching load are also in place through the issuance of the DepEd Order No. 005, series of 2024, according to President Marcos.
“Public school teachers will be properly compensated once they exceed the prescribed six hours of classroom teaching every day,” he said. “We are instituting these measures to foster a more balanced and conducive work environment for our public school teachers.” (PND)
