Insignificant to Teachers – Ilagan on the proposed SSL III

“The Salary Standardization Law (SSL) should be responsive and relevant to the needs of government workers.” The much -awaited modified salary standardization was finally tackled by the Lower House of Congress after the Department of Budget and Management submitted its proposal. “But the proposed salary scheme does not address the calls of the concerned sectors, especially of the teachers.” said Gabriela Women's Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan.

“The long-suffering public school teachers have  been impoverished by skyrocketing prices of basic commodities vis-a-vis the failure of the Arroyo administration to increase their salaries  for six years. They have not even benefited from the provisions of the  Magna Carta for Teachers which still has to be fully implemented.  Indeed, they deserve a salary increase  which will merely allow them to cope with the daily living wage set by the National Productivity Commission.” said the Gabriela solon.

SSL III or Joint Resolution No. 24, urges the President of the Philippines to modify the compensation and position classification system in the government  and  to implement the same initially effective July 1, 2009, and authorizes the amendment of existing laws and issuances contrary to the provisions of said resolution.  It also  consolidates all House bills on proposed salary increases of government personnel including  House Bill 4734,  known as the  Additional Compensation Act for Public School Teachers, principally authored by Rep. Ilagan.

Rep. Ilagan said that the proposal to change the salary grade (SG) level of teachers from SG 10 to SG 11  means  an increase of P 6,523 to be paid within 4 years or the equivalent of P 1,630. 75 a month for the first year,  much below the demand of public school teachers for a  P9,000 salary increase within a period of three years as provided for in HB 4734.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has proposed to the House Committee on Appropriation to raise teachers' entry salary level from SG 10 to SG 13, in order to meet the required P9,000 increase contained in HB 4734 and to pay this out within three years.

Rep Ilagan strongly supports ACT and other teachers' groups who have lobbied for this increase and further insists that a law,  not merely a joint resolution, mandate the provisions and implementation of the new salary scheme. #