MANILA - An independent body will study a possible salary increase for public school teachers, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday, after the government doubled the pay for soldiers and policemen.
Diokno said the “best time to consider” future salary adjustments would be after the 4-year salary standardization law takes full effect in 2020.
Doubling the pay of some 600,000 public school teachers would cost half a trillion pesos, Diokno told reporters.
Government resources are focused on President Rodrigo Duterte’s P8-trillion infrastructure program and social protection initiatives for the poor.
Public school teachers' monthly salaries range from P19,620 to P47,779, according to the Department of Education. Two more adjustments will be given under the salary standardization law this year and in 2019.