Jamayka Rhose Pascual

A bill proposing a P50,000 entry-level monthly salary for public school teachers has been refiled in the House of Representatives on June 30.

Photo Courtesy of DepEd.

House Bill 203, authored by Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co, was filed on the first day of the 20th Congress.

This measure aims to address the long-standing issue of inadequate salaries for teachers, whose compensation remains far below the estimated cost of a decent standard of living

Under the current salary guidelines, a Teacher I earns P30,024 per month, an amount which the authors say is insufficient to support a family given the daily living wage of approximately P1,217.

“Even with the latest salary adjustment, the monthly pay of even mid-level personnel like public school teachers (Salary Grade 11, P30,024 for Step 1) estimated to be comprised of 803,272 personnel occupying Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 positions remains insufficient for a family living wage of P1,217 per day," the authors said in their explanatory note.

Despite the amendments to the Salary Standardization Law in 2020 and 2024, lawmakers argue that salary increases for teachers have not kept pace with inflation or rising household expenses.

“It must be stressed that this level of pay of the main frontliners of education- professionals who went through long years of academic and practical training- amounts to less than the family living wage. No wonder most teachers would rather work abroad despite the risks and hazards to earn almost thrice or eight times the entry-level salary,” the lawmakers added.

They point out that while educators received increases of around 5%, police and military personnel were granted pay hikes ranging from 50% to 100% during the Duterte administration.

“Heeding the demand for substantial salary increases promotes and protects the rights of the majority of our frontliners in education to decent lives, to be fully compensated for their hard work, and to a just return of the taxes they are faithfully paying,” the lawmakers said

This gap, according to the bill’s explanatory note, reflects a misalignment in how the government values different frontline professions.

The authors stressed that public school teachers, who undergo years of academic training and carry the responsibility of shaping future generations, continue to struggle with financial insecurity.

They also noted that the current salary scheme often compels teachers to take on additional jobs or seek opportunities abroad, where compensation is significantly higher.

“It is a matter of justice, one that must be granted at the soonest possible time for public school teachers,” they added.