Duterte: Gov't eyes increase in teachers' wages this year

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — Amid calls to raise the salaries of teachers in the country, the President assured that the hike order is in the works.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday he is expecting a wage hike this year, but it won't be doubled like the salaries of the Philippine National Police.

“It’s coming ang increases nila. But hindi double. But mas marami ang teachers, my God. Pero nandiyan po, dadating ‘yan this year,” he told the press upon arriving from a five-day visit to Russia.

[Translation: Their increases are coming this year. I won't be double their salary because there are so many teachers.]

This comes after protests staged in schools on World Teacher’s Day on Saturday, asking to increase public school educators’ salaries to ₱30,000.

Data from the Department of Education shows the average teacher in the Philippines currently earns ₱20,754 to ₱25,232 monthly.