Bill Seeks P50,000 Monthly Minimum Salary for Public School Teachers

A new measure aiming to raise the minimum monthly salary of public school teachers to P50,000 has been refiled in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 203, authored by ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co, was filed on June 30, coinciding with the opening day of the lawmakers’ terms in the 20th Congress.

The proposed legislation underscores the continuing plight of public school teachers who, despite adjustments under the Salary Standardization Law in 2020 and 2024, still struggle to earn enough to secure a decent standard of living for their families.

In their explanatory note, the authors painted a stark picture of the situation faced by public school teachers. They explained that despite recent salary adjustments, a typical mid-level teacher — classified under Salary Grade 11 and earning around P30,024 a month — still falls short of affording a decent standard of living. This pay scale, which applies to an estimated 803,272 educators holding Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 positions, is simply not enough when measured against the family living wage, which stands at about P1,217 per day.

The lawmakers also pointed out the disparity between the compensation of teachers and other uniformed personnel. They noted that during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the salaries of police and soldiers rose by 50% to 100%, whereas public school teachers under Teacher 1 to Teacher 3 positions only saw modest increases of 4.95% to 5.6%.

Tinio and Co emphasized that ensuring teachers are adequately compensated is crucial for improving the quality of education and uplifting the teaching profession.

If passed, the bill will significantly raise the starting pay of public school teachers, offering them better financial security and recognizing their essential role in nation-building.

GOOD NEWS FOR TEACHERS (READ HERE)