Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros has committed to push for better pay and benefits for teaching and non-teaching personnel as she bared her education agenda on Friday, Feb. 11.

During the Senatorial forum of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Hontiveros said that pushing for better working conditions for the education workers and treating them as frontline workers are at the center of her education agenda.

“Naniniwala ako na ang pag-aalaga sa ating mga guro ay pag-aalaga sa buong education system. Kapag sila ay may healthy hanapbuhay, mas makakapagtrabaho at matutukan ang pagtuturo (I believe that by taking care of our teachers, we are also taking care of our education system. If they have healthy job, they can do better in their job and be more focused on teaching),” Hontiveros said.

The opposition Senator pledged to advance legislation that will improve the working conditions of teachers and school personnel by providing more incentives and benefits.

Her proposals include minimum salaries for teachers and education workers, increase in Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) and school supplies allowances, fixing of teachers to student ratio, security of tenure among education workers, plantilla position for guidance counselors in line with the implementation of the Mental Health Law, among others.

“Itutuloy nating isulong ang sapat na sahod, benepisyo at allowances ng mga teaching and non-teaching personnel. Dapat mas i-improve pa ang digital infrastructure sa bansa para suportahan ang online at digital learning (We will continue to fight for enough salary, benefits, and allowances to our teaching and non-teaching personnel. Digital infrastructure in the country must be improved to support online and digital learning)," Hontiveros said.

She further said that teachers must also be given free training for distance learning education as a new skill and the country's educational curriculum must be revised.

The lady senator also lamented the government's response to the country's educational crisis, saying "it's as if they are in denial and acting on it like 'business as usual',"

“Kung nagde-demand tayo ng performance ng mga paaralan, ng mga guro at estudyante, dapat din tayong magdemand ng proactive leadership mula sa Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority sa pagpapabuti ng ating education system (If we are demanding better performance from the schools, teachers, and students, we should also demand for proactive leadership from the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to improve our education system),” Hontiveros stressed.

Hontiveros further said that many candidates have been promising the same as far as the education situation in the country is concerned but she called on the voters to instead look at her track record of the laws and measures she fought for.

“Alam ko na maraming mga nangako. Pero isa sa mga pwede niyong panghahawakan sa akin. Track record ng isinulong nating mga batas, panukalang-batas at mga resolusyon para maisulong ang karapatan at kapakanan ng mga sektor kasama na ang edukasyon. Umaasa ako na sana bibigyan n'yo ako ng R1sa pang pagkakataon para magpatuloy (I know that many promises have been made. But I only have my track record of the laws and measures I have pushed for the rights of various sectors including education. I am hoping that you give me another chance to continue,” she told the public.

Hontiveros, who is seeking reelection for a seat in the Senate, is running under the Leni-Kiko ticket.

On the fourth day of her campaign trail Friday, she visited Paranaque City to grace the 5th Paranaque Barangay Power Awarding ceremony.