House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has vowed to pull all the stops for the country’s nearly one million public school teachers in terms of salaries, benefits and more. 

“In all of the challenges that you face, we in Congress must stress that we will not waver in our promise to give you (in the Department of Education) our continued support in your programs, not just for the laws that we pass, but for the betterment of our teachers as well,” he said during the celebration of 2024 National Teacher’s Month at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“And this includes higher pay, more benefits, which should extend to more opportunities for training and progress of everyone,” the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives bared. 

Romualdez underscored that the Marcos administration, along with Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, does not make promises it cannot keep. 

"Nagbubulungan kami ni Secretary Angara kanina at kinunsulta ko ang chairman of Appropriations (Committee) ng House, at sisiguraduhin natin na magdadagdag tayo ng mga classroom buildings at mga equipment, kagaya ng laptops at computers," Speaker Romualdez noted. 

(Secretary Angara and I were whispering a while ago and I was consulting with the chairman of Appropriations Committee in the House, and we will ensure the construction of additional classroom buildings and delivery of equipment, like laptops and computers.) 

His annoucement was met by cheers from the attending teachers and DepEd officials. 

“Our promise will definitely not end up as mere lip service. The administration of President Marcos will make sure that you are equipped with all the necessary tools that will advance your chosen career, but will also ultimately redound to the benefit of our future leaders,”  Romualdez said. 

Incidentally, National Teacher’s Day will be commemorated on Oct. 5. 

“We salute our teachers who have made sacrifices beyond their limits, who always go out of their way to help our students learn so that they will be fully prepared for the realities and struggles of life the moment they enter our labor force,” the House chief added. 

Romualdez said that the teacher's devotion, dedication, and passion to work "is beyond question". 

“And we are all grateful for that. You have made it your vow to nourish our children into making them productive citizens of our progressing society.” 

“As we always say, education is the foundation of everyone’s success, and for which this administration will vigorously pursue in our ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ theme. And you as teachers, being pillars of our education system, will be there as guiding light for our youth,” he said. 

The Speaker said one lesson he learned from one of his teachers in the past was that no matter how difficult the situation is, there will always be ways to overcome these challenges, which will ultimately lead to success. 

“This is one lesson we in Congress, and the government in general, have always been mindful of. And I’m sure these are also the lessons that you try to inculcate to your students day in and day out,” the administration stalwart, who sits as president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party, stressed. 

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is the Committee on Appropriations chiarman in the House of Representatives.