Senator Sherwin Gatchalian vowed to pursue measures that will give public school teachers more benefits and career opportunities as part of the continuing celebration of National Teachers’ Month.

Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, graced last Sept. 27 the Pasinaya, the 2024 World Teacher’s Day celebration of the Division of Davao Oriental, which was in Caraga.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga guro para sa napakahalagang papel na ginagampanan nila upang hubugin ang ating mga kabataan na maging mabubuti at mahuhusay na mga mamamayan. Bilang pagkilala sa kanilang kontribusyon sa ating bansa, patuloy nating isinusulong ang mga panukalang batas upang itaguyod ang kanilang kapakanan (I would like to extend my gratitude to our teachers for the vital role they play in shaping our youth into better and more capable citizens. In recognition of their contributions to our country, we continue to push for legislative proposals that promote their welfare),” said Gatchalian.

The lawmaker reiterated his push for measures that will benefit public school teachers, including the Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (Senate Bill No. 2493), the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers Act (SB No. 2827), and the Amendment to Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 (SB No. 2840).

The Revised Magna Carta for Public School Teachers seeks to institutionalize additional benefits and improve the working conditions of public school teachers.

The proposed measure seeks the grant of calamity leave, the circumstances and conditions on the grant of a special hardship allowance, the protection of teachers from out-of-pocket expenses, the prohibition of assigning non-teaching tasks to teachers, and the reduction of teaching hours from six to four, among others.

The Career Progression System for Public School Teachers Act seeks to expand public school teachers’ prospects for a career path in teaching, school administration, or supervision. The proposed measure also creates the positions of Teacher IV, Teacher V, Teacher VI, Teacher VII, and Master Teacher V.