Senator Legarda: I did not cut teachers' leave days, pay

CEBU, Philippines - Vice presidential aspirant Senator Loren Legarda has called on Cebuano teachers not to believe rumors that she was responsible for reducing their leave credits and removing their vacation pay.

This after she learned that her low survey rating, especially in Cebu, was allegedly brought about by such false information.

“The information is totally false and fabricated, with no other purpose than to destroy my reputation as a champion for the rights of our dedicated government workers, specially our teachers,” Legarda said in a statement.

Rumors are now rife within the Department of Education that Legarda purportedly authored bills and legislative measures which in effect reduced the leave credits and removed the vacation pay of teaching and non-teaching personnel nationwide.

In a letter dated January 5, 2010, Legarda asked DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus to disseminate the letter to the various regional offices of the Department to stop the circulation of the information to prevent the demoralization and confusion of the teaching and non-teaching personnel.

She said that records show that from day one that she became Senator and up to this time she has always supported measures that seek to increase or improve the benefits of government employees.

Apart from the Magna Carta for Teachers which she authored during her first term as senator, she also filed this present Congress Senate Bill 1611 entitled; “An Act Upgrading the Minimum Salary Grade Level of Teachers from Salary Grade 10 to 19”.

Legarda assured that she shall remain a staunch partner of the Department in protecting the rights and welfare of government employees, particularly the teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department. — Gregg M. Rubio/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)