PASIG CITY, September 5, 2018 – The Department of Education (DepEd) honors the teaching profession through the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) celebration from September 5 to October 5, 2018, with October 5 to be observed as the National Teachers’ Day (NTD) and the World Teachers’ Day (WTD).

With the theme, “Gurong Pilipino: Turo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko,” the celebration puts to limelight the crucial role, loyal service, and dedicated commitment of teachers in developing globally competitive learners, strengthening communities, and building the nation.

“Through this occasion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dearest teachers who treat learners as their own children, who devote themselves to the lifelong mission of combatting illiteracy, and who work above and beyond the call of duty,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones stated.

Month-long commemoration
For the entire month, all regional offices, schools division offices, and public and private schools across the country are enjoined to follow synchronized activities including information dissemination, resource mobilization, posting of streamers and announcements, and conduct of specific activities such as arts and composition writing contests for learners, cultural performances, and all other undertakings that shall highlight and honor the teachers’ contributions to the society.

The NTM officially kicked off in MacArthur Park in Palo, Leyte on August 30, while the grand WTD event will be held in Ormoc City Superdome in Ormoc City, Leyte to be attended by teacher-representatives, officials, guests, and other stakeholders from various regions.

The celebration is carried out in cooperation with the National Teachers Day Coordinating Council (NTDCC), the National Teachers Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC), and other partners and stakeholders who believe in the essential role of teachers in the Philippine society.

Teachers’ welfare, benefits
As part of the Education Secretary’s 10-point agenda to expand the scope of welfare of its teaching and non-teaching personnel, DepEd is committed to continuously provide adequate compensation for the invaluable contribution of teachers in the delivery of quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for all.

Under the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) in 2019, a Teacher I with Salary Grade 11 will receive a basic monthly salary of P20,754, with P2,000 worth of Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), a monthly allowance granted to augment government employee’s pay due to the rising cost of living.

Teachers’ annual benefits also include clothing allowance in the amount of P6,000; mid-year and year-end bonuses equivalent to one-month salary each; cash gift of P5,000; productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) worth P5,000; performance-based bonus (PBB) which ranges from 50 to 65% of the basic monthly salary depending on the school’s performance; and cash/chalk allowance in the amount of P3,500.

Teachers likewise receive proportional vacation pay (PVP) equivalent to 70 days during the summer for those who have rendered full services during the school year, and Christmas vacation pay equivalent to 14 days during the holiday break.

Step increment, meanwhile, is the increase in salary from step to step within the salary grade of a position due to length of service. They also receive loyalty cash incentive depending on the number of years in service (starting on the 10th year amounting to P10,000, and P5,000 after every five years).

Other benefits and incentives include special hardship allowance for those assigned in hardship posts or those that cannot be reached by regular means of transportation through hiking or banca/motorcycle rides, mobile teachers, and multi-grade teachers; honoraria for those with teaching overload subject to funds availability; and additional incentives/allowances from the local government unit in selected divisions.

These are on top of the leave privileges, vacation service credits, and social security benefits including GSIS benefits, Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums (RLIP), and PhilHealth benefits (hospitalization, annual physical examination) afforded to them.

END