Public school teachers in Bacolod City are asking for P5,000 across the board pay increase and more tax exemptions. They said the approved 10 percent salary hike on basic pay of government employees is not enough to cover the rising cost of living.

In a statement released to the media, the Bacolod City Public School Teachers Association and National Organization of Professional Teachers Inc., said the 10 percent pay hike can hardly offset the effect of E-VAT on prices of commodities. The teachers' groups have sent copies of their resolutions to the Office of the President, Senate and House of Representatives hoping that the President and the legislators will grant their request.

"We are consistent and faithful payers of our taxes. We hope the President will heed our requests and remedy our real situation," Gladys Sales, president of PBCPSTA-NOPTI said.

She added that public school teachers can hardly collect a net home pay of P3,000 after mandatory deductions, including withholding tax and other liabilities. Teachers' declared annual assets and liabilities showed that they have fewer assets and more liabilities as a result of loans and indebtedness incurred due to insufficient compensation, Sales added.

"The disparity is aggravated by the indecisiveness of our lawmakers to approve the law on salary standardization. The last time we received a meager pay increase was in 2001," she said.

Sales also pointed out that there is a strong correlation between teachers' job satisfaction and quality of teaching. If the government is serious in improving the quality of education, it should take a careful look in the teachers' socio-economic situation, she added.*NAB

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