Letter to the editor - A just compensation for a noble profession

For the longest time, the Filipino teachers have been neglected and disregarded. Neglected as compared with their Asian counterparts or even with some employees in Philippine bureaucracy. Neglected along with the public education system. Disregarded in spite of their significance.

This despite the provisions of 1987 Constitution; the recommendations of ILO and Unesco; the legal mandates of the Magna Carta for Teachers; and the findings of joint Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) of 1991.

The Philippine Senate of the 14th Congress deserves to be applauded. It did not sit but rather worked for the salary upgrading bills pending before the chamber and came up with a consolidated proposal- the Senate Bill 2408 or "An Act Providing for Additional Support and Compensation for Teachers in Basic Education."

The bill which will grant us an additional compensation amounting to P9,000 over a period of three years among other benefits has passed its third reading in the upper house.

There are at least three counterpart bills pending before the House of Representatives, but the "house of the people" seems to be reluctant to discuss the proposal.

The Malacañang-proposed measure reflected in Joint Resolution Number 24, although containing some critical provisions is a welcome development. It only proves that the government is cognizant of the fact that indeed, teachers and government employees must be granted of an increase in salaries.

However, it could not rectify but only reaffirm, if not exacerbate the wage disparity resulting from the errors committed by the Congress when it pegged the teachers' entry-level position to Salary Grade 10- the lowest among the government professionals under the Salary Standardization Law of 1989 (RA 6758).

We would not buy the "lack of funds alibi" in the midst of 700 million fertilizer fund scam; overpriced ODA transactions; public funds easily converted into Euros; expensive highways; billion-peso Malacañang dividend from GSIS; myopic dole-outs posed as economic relief; historic high foreign debt service among others- yet the government has no money to enforce the mandates of its constitution.

Filipino teachers deserve a just treatment and compensation commensurate to our role in the society. We deserve to live a dignified life.

Benjo Basas

National Chairperson

Teachers' Dignity Coalition