The salary of teachers had been one of the biggest issues in the country; teachers were saying that they're not being paid enough in comparison to other professionals. In this regard several bills have been proposed to increase the salaries and the compensations of public sector teachers.
In addition to that, President Rodrigo Duterte also gave the assurance that an actual part of his plan was to increase teachers' salaries. However, the infamous COVID-19 pandemic slowed this progress down. Funds have been used to help citizens and workers who are in need and there were many adjustments made.
For the benefit of all public sector teachers, the Department of Education (DepEd) said and confirmed that the teachers' salary increase in 2021 will be pushed. Annalyn Sevilla, Undersecretary of the DepEd, even said that there is sufficient funding for the salary increase of teachers in the year 2021.
Read: The Department of Education (DepEd) Plans to Hire Retired and Displaced Teachers as Tutors
By next year meron naman pong salary increase. Ito ‘yung second tranche noong Salary Standardization Law. Meron pong kasiguraduhan sa ating mga guro na naka-employ ngayon."
In Translation: By next year, the teachers' salary increase would be possible. This will be the second (2nd) tranche of the Salary Standardization Law or the SSL. We can assure all employed teachers today of this increase.
Increase for Fund Personnel Services
Sevilla even made a mention that the entire DepEd is confident that the wage hike will happen because of the increase in the budget this 2020. Furthermore, she said that they saw an increase for the personnel fund services next year of about P56.69 billion.
Right now, we were informed that about P4 billion will be given to DepEd and we will have to coordinate with the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Department of Budget and Management.”
Read: Children Without COVID-19 Symptoms Might be Spreading it, as Study Suggests
Revisiting the SSL of 2019
In case you're not aware, the Salary Standardization Law or the SSL is the Republic Act (R.A.) that helps in the modification and the changing of the salaries of public sector personnel. In addition to that, the act also helps in granting personnel the benefits that they need.
Under the first (1st) tranche of the SSL in 2019, the salary of the different levels of teachers are as follows:
Position | Salary Grade | Basic Salary | First Tranche (2020) | Second Tranche (2021) | Third Tranche (2022) | Fourth Tranche (2023) |
| Teacher I | 11 | P20,754 | P22,316 | P23,877 | P25,439 | P27,00 |
| Teacher II | 12 | P22,938 | P24,495 | P26,052 | P27,608 | P29,165 |
| Teacher III | 13 | P25,232 | P26,754 | P28,276 | P29,798 | P31,320 |
| Master Teacher I | 18 | P40,637 | P42,159 | P43,681 | P45,203 | P46,725 |
| Master Teacher II | 19 | P45,269 | P46,791 | P48,313 | P49,835 | P51,357 |
| Master Teacher III | 20 | P51,115 | P52,703 | P54,251 | P55,799 | P57,347 |
| Master Teacher IV | 21 | P57,805 | P59,353 | P60,901 | P62,449 | P63,997 |
This is the planned salaries for teachers starting next year as well as the next levels and steps of it. But, that's not everything. According to the DepEd, what was meant to be for the chalk allowance of the teachers would be given to them through the form of a cash allowance. They said that this is to help offset the expenses that they'll need for the distance or the blended learning.
However, it is also worth noting that the DepEd dismissed the request of some groups of teachers about the extra allowance to be given to teachers. However, that wouldn't have any adverse effects on the teachers' salary increase by next year.
Read: The DepEd Defies Pass or Fail System For This School Year
Extra Allowance For Teachers?
Annalyn Sevilla said that the allowance to be gotten by teachers from the chalk allowance shall be enough to offset and/or cover the expenses for materials and supplies that would help and aid them in delivering to their learning.
The [allowance] shall cover the expenses of teachers for the purchase of teaching supplies and materials … for the implementation or conduct of various modes of learning delivery."
Technically speaking, if we were to keenly look at the situation, there will be no extra allowance for the teachers that would magically appear. It will be offset from the chalk allowance that they get on a usual or on a regular basis.
In addition to that, the DepEd also said that teachers who would work in regions and places where it's under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) will receive a hazard pay of P500 per day. There are a lot of things in store for public sector teachers other than the salary increase or the wage hike.
Read: DepEd: Classes Are Planned to End on the 16th of June 2021
But, let us not forget that they're not the only people who would see this increase. All employees and workers of the government can expect to see an increase in their wages and their compensations too.
Source/s: The Summit Express | GMA Network
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