MANILA — The reforms carried out by the current administration have started to benefit Filipino teachers and the education sector as a whole, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, October 3.
Addressing teachers during the 2024 National Teachers’ Day Celebration in Quezon City, President Marcos enumerated recent government efforts to help educators.
He also narrated stories attesting to the transformations in the sector as a result of government interventions.
The President cited the experience of Sorayda, a teacher from La Union, whose salary increase and medical allowance gave her peace of mind.
The President signed Executive Order No. 64 increasing the salary of government employees, including teachers and delivering medical allowance worth P7,000.
“She and her fellow teachers can now focus on teaching, knowing that the government has recognized their value and their hard work,” President Marcos told the teachers during the gathering.
With the issuance of the DepEd Order No. 005, series of 2024, teachers now have fair and equitable distribution of teaching load.
Public school teachers will be properly compensated once they exceed the prescribed six hours of classroom teaching per day, the President said. This is meant to foster a more balanced and conducive work environment for public school teachers, he said.
The President also mentioned Joanna, a teacher from Negros Occidental, who shared the government’s assurance that no teacher will retire as Teacher I. The assurance boosted the morale of the teachers.
“It is not just a recognition of our teachers’ dedication, but also a testament to our shared commitment to empowering our educators,” President Marcos said.
Another educator from Abra’s Last Mile Schools, Narry Ann, mentioned that through the School Building Program, she now has a safe, comfortable space where her students can learn without distractions, the President said.
“So, as we lay down the groundwork for a more resilient sector, I enjoin DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, along with our government agencies, to continue improving the quality of education, uphold the rights of our teachers, and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of our academic landscape,” he said. (PND)
