Budget issues on the salary grades of new teaching positions to be created under a proposed measure stopped the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Monday, March 13, from approving the unnumbered substitute bill that would ensure public school teachers are well-compensated and can advance professionally in their teaching careers.

Pasig City Lone District Rep. Roman Romulo, head of the committee, gave the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) a week to “run the numbers and go back to this committee with a new and final report” after the agency raised concerns on the Salary Grades (SGs) that would be assigned to the new teaching positions under the proposed measure.

“We wanted to approve this bill this morning pero now that the DBM will give us its number, I think it is reasonable for everyone to wait for one week,” he said.

OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino proposed the rescheduling of the approval of the bill after DBM has given its report, so the committee can “move forward.”

“We have to make the final decision after one week, Mr. Chair,” she said.

The confusion on how the DBM would supply the funds needed for the new teaching positions, as well as make adjustments on the salary grades of master teachers, principals, and divisional school supervisors, came after DBM Acting Director Perpetual Judea Quiazon stated that the adjustments in salary grades to accommodate the bill’s provision would affect higher positions.

In the “funding requirement” computation the DBM earlier provided the committee, the P28.8 billion was only for the reclassification of Teachers 1, 2, and 3 from SGs 11, 12, and 13 into SGs 12, 13, and 14, the official explained.

“So, hindi po siya para sa lahat... magbabanggaan po talaga sa dulo iyon talaga mangyayari dito (So, it is not for all...those at the top would certainly clash, that’s what will happen here)," he said.

“We suggest po to clarify in the bill hanggang saan po iyong proposal natin. Kasi doon sa Section 8 po ng bill on the salary, ang stated lang po dito in order to attract and retain the talents, the minimum base salary for teachers under DepEd shall not be lowered than Salary Grade 12 (We suggest to clarify in the bill until where our proposal will be. Because in Section 8 of the bill on the salary, what’s stated here is in order to attract and retain the talents, the minimum base salary for teachers under DepEd shall not be lowered than Salary Grade 12),” Quiazon added.

Roman explained that the proposed bill is for the career progression of the teachers because Congress wants “to ensure is that our teachers will have the right to become teachers for life and their salaries will be equivalent to our school principals.”

“We just want to make sure that those who want to continue teaching and are good at teaching can do so and stay in the position while their salaries also increase. Unlike now, if they don’t become school principals, their salaries will not increase,” the lawmaker said in Filipino.

The substitute bill would consolidate HBs 1580 and 3554, Institutionalizing the career progression system for public school teachers, by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list and Ralph Recto of Batangas 6th District.

The proposed measure would create new teaching positions—Teacher IV, V, VI, and VII with SGs 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively—before becoming Master Teacher 1.

After which, public school teachers can decide what career path they want to take—stay in the teaching career or become an administrator.

Roman said head teachers would be given a year to decide if they want to be reclassified or retitled, and that there would be a third-party assessment to assess the career progression of the teachers based on merit and performance.

The proposed bill stated that the basis for the reclassification would be academic or educational preparation, teaching experience including those in private schools, and training and extra-curricular activities for professional growth.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas said he has no objection to Salary Grade 12 as the new minimum for public school teachers.

However, he also stressed that “this will create a domino effect on the higher positions in the democracy” because School Principal 4 and Master Teacher 5 should be SG 20 already after the reclassification.

The problem with this, Bringas added, is that SG 20 is already higher than the SG of an education program supervisor in the division and region.

“I think we should look into how we can balance this. Maybe DBM can create a new salary so there will be no disruption,” he proposed.

In Romualdez’s and Acidre’s bill’s explanatory note, they noted that the proposed measure would “boost professional development and career advancement among public school teachers.”

They also said that the proposed measure is “in line” with the DepEd’s “commitment to strengthen the right of teachers to professional advancement and the policy of the State to provide quality education at all levels to the Filipino learners.”