MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte said the awaited increase in the salary of public school teachers will be given this year.
Fresh from his visit to Russia, Duterte on Sunday assured that the government is working on the salary increase of teachers.
"Mas marami ang teachers, my God, pero nandiyan po, darating 'yan, this year," he told reporters.
(There are more teachers, my God, but it's there, it will come this year.)
The President, however, refused to give an exact date as to when the increase will be given.
"If I give you the timeline, tapos I could not make it on the deadline, I have to explain more than what is expected of the government. Mas mabuti na 'yang nandiyan na, sinasabi ko, nandiyan na 'yan," Duterte explained.
(If I give you the timeline then I could not make it on the deadline, I have to explain more than what is expected of the government. It's better to announce it when it's ready.)
"Basta sinasabi ko, may increase din sila. That I'm very sure of," he added.
(I'm telling you, they will also have an increase. That I'm very sure of.)
At the start of the year, Duterte vowed to increase the salaries of public school teachers within the year.
The clamor for an increase comes after pay hikes for police officers, soldiers, and other uniformed personnel last year.
Currently, entry-level public-school teachers, which have a Salary Grade 11 under Tranche 4 of the Salary Standardization Law, earn a monthly salary of P20,754.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has proposed the creation of new ranks for teachers corresponding to higher salary grades to close the pay gap.