At A Glance
- Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas hailed the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for releasing the P11.6-billion performance-based bonus (PBB) for teachers in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas (Facebook)
Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas hailed the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for releasing the P11.6-billion performance-based bonus (PBB) for teachers in public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
“All teachers are performers in their profession. Despite the different struggles they face, they manage to keep up with the delivery of education to our students. They deserve all the praise and incentives,” Vargas said in a statement Sunday, Sept. 17
At the same time, the neophyte solon pushed for the passage of proposed legislation to hike teachers' salary as a way to "truly recognize" their efforts.
Vargas highlighted his pet measure, House Bill (HB) No. 4070, which aims to adjust the minimum salary grade level of public school teachers from the current Salary Grade (SG) 11 (P25,439 per month) to SG 19 (P49,835 per month).
The measure remains pending at the House Committee on Appropriations.
“To truly recognize our noble teachers who shape the minds that shape the nation, we need to ensure that their compensation corresponds with their workload. We hope to have good news regarding their salary upgrade in time with the World Teachers’ Day next month,” he said.
Teacher organizations have been lobbying for salary increases since the previous 18th Congress, as they agreed that Republic Act (RA) No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2019 was not enough to sustain the rising cost of living.
Vargas has also filed severa other pro-teacher bills, such as: the Teaching Supplies Allowance Bill (HB No.4072); Distant Public School Teachers Incentive Bill (HB No.4073), Health Care for Teachers Bill (HB No.4074); and Housing Program for Teachers Bill (HB No.4075), among others.
“Since the time of my brother, [former congressman] Alfred Vargas, in the lower House, we continue to advocate for our educators. We recognize their plight and sacrifices in the different areas of their lives while maintaining the standard of education our kids deserve,” Vargas said.