Bacolod City – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte over-the-weekend brought good news to more than 3,400 teachers and non-teaching personnel, as she attended the National Teachers’ Month program held at the Panaad Sports Complex in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.
Duterte have announced the 30-day break for teachers after the school year, reduction in administrative tasks of teachers from 56 to 11, being are the only ones with legal basis, and the impending launch of a DepEd website to assist teachers with financial loan contract problems.
“These initiatives are testament to our understanding of your challenges and our determination to ensure you focus on what you do best, and that is teaching,” the Vice President said, stressing also that the DepEd vision is to provide innovative, long-term solutions to basic education challenges.
Senator Imee Marcos also pledged her commitment to teachers in pushing the increase of their chalk allowance from P5,000 to P7,500, or even up to P10,000, as she admitted that the increase of their salaries may not happen yet.
Marcos also gave 25 kilos of rice and lipsticks each to teachers, aside from P1,000 each given by her and Senator Francis Tolentino, who joined also Duterte in the activity, aside from giving away laptops, printers and smart television sets as raffle prizes.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who was also joined by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and several mayors, also paid tribute to the teachers for their selfless dedication and remarkable service as he assured the DepEd of the continuing support of the province.
“You can count on your provincial government to empower and assist you. I applaud the high standards you have set for your students and fellow teachers,” Lacson said.
While the task of educating children should not rest solely on the shoulders of teachers, Lacson said it should be a shared responsibility.
“All of us have a role to play in guaranteeing that education is both accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of our students,” he added.
Dr. Ramir Uytico, regional director of DepEd Western Visayas, also gave a message before honoring several retired teachers in Negros Occidental. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
