Duterte says next goal to raise teachers’ pay

June 13, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will next prioritize the increase of public school teachers after increasing the salary of the police and military.

In a speech during the oathtaking of public officials in Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte said now that he is done with the salary of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, his next priority is increasing salaries of public school teachers.

Duterte said unlike the police and military, there are millions of teachers.

"Next would be the teachers. We're working on it --- like what I have promised. But remember that there are millions of teachers," he said.

"There are only a few policemen, something like 160. There are 130 in the military. It's easier. That is why their salaries have been doubled," he added.

Duterte explained that is why he prioritized on increasing the salary of the police and military first is to help them prepare for the future of their families once they retire.

"You know military, the Armed Forces and the police, they retire at the age of 56. If they marry at the age of 30, they still have to send their children to high school if not college," said Duterte.

"If they retire and if they don't have a business as a source of income, the family will suffer. They could not cope with educating the children further in schooling," he added.

Duterte said the two organizations are "ready to go to war, jump straight to hell and die".

"That's why I understand. If you want a strong country, you need to have a strong army. Nothing will happen if you have a weak armed forces. If it's too weak, you cannot enforce the law," he said.

In a press briefing last Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the economic managers of the Duterte administration are preparing for it.

"They are just looking for the source of funds," said Panelo. Ella Dionisio/DMS