JV Ejercito pushes P10,000 across-the-board pay hike for public school teachers
August 20, 2026
Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito is pushing a P10,000 across-the-board increase in the basic monthly salary of all public elementary and secondary school teachers, one of his priority bills in the 20th Congress aimed at improving the welfare of Filipino teachers.
Under the proposed Senate Bill No. 335 or “Dagdag Suweldo Para sa mga Guro” Act, all public school teachers would receive an additional P10,000 in their basic monthly salary, regardless of their length of service.
Ejercito said the proposal recognizes the important role teachers play in educating Filipino children while addressing the economic challenges faced by educators.
“Araw-araw, hindi lang pagtuturo ang ginagawa ng ating mga guro. Naghahanda sila ng lessons, nagche-check ng mga papel, gumagawa ng reports, at higit sa lahat, inaalagaan at ginagabayan nila ang ating mga estudyante. Nakikita natin ang kanilang pagod at sakripisyo,” Ejercito said.
The lawmaker from San Juan stressed that teachers should be given better compensation to help improve their quality of life and encourage the best talents to remain in the public education system.
“Hindi madaling maging guro. Malaki ang responsibilidad nila, pero madalas ay malaki rin ang sakripisyong kailangang gawin para matupad ang kanilang tungkulin. Kaya panahon na para mas maipakita natin ang ating pagpapahalaga sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng dagdag-sahod,” he noted.
For Ejercito, improving teachers’ economic welfare is also an investment in the country’s education system.
“Hindi natin makakamit ang de-kalidad na edukasyon kung ang mga taong nasa frontline nito ay patuloy na nahihirapan sa kanilang kabuhayan,” he said.
He added that teachers deserve to feel that the government sees and values their contribution.
“Para sa ating mga guro, alam naming hindi matutumbasan ng anumang halaga ang inyong sakripisyo. Pero nais nating ipakita na hindi namin kayo nakakalimutan.”
