Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated that the government would need around P500 billion to implement a proposed P15,000 salary increase for teachers. This was discussed during a Senate subpanel on finance’s hearing regarding the 2025 budget for the Department of Education (DepEd). The proposed salary increase aims to uplift the pay of over 800,000 public school teachers across the country.

DepEd’s Plan for Teachers’ Salary Increase

During the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked about DepEd’s strategies for improving teachers’ compensation. She highlighted that despite the recently signed Executive Order No. 64, which guarantees salary increases for all government employees, many teachers’ groups are still demanding higher wages. Hontiveros mentioned two options: raising the entry-level salary grade from 11 to 15 or 19, or implementing an across-the-board P15,000 increase.

Secretary Angara acknowledged that raising teachers’ salaries is a priority, but he emphasized the enormous financial requirements. With over 800,000 teachers, the estimated cost for the proposed P15,000 salary increase would range from P400 billion to P500 billion.

“We are definitely in favor of increasing teachers’ salaries,” Angara said. “But we must understand that the financial demands are huge. The government, with its many budgetary needs, is facing challenges in finding the funds to implement this.”

Financial Challenges of the P15,000 Salary Hike

The government’s financial constraints make it difficult to implement the proposed salary hike for teachers. Angara explained that the cost of increasing the salary of each teacher by P15,000 across the board is massive, which adds to the complexity of the proposal. He pointed out that there are almost one million public school teachers, in addition to millions of other government employees also requesting salary increases.

Despite these challenges, Angara remains optimistic that there will be an increase in teachers’ salaries in the coming years. He noted that the Salary Standardization Law 6 under EO 64, recently signed by the President, ensures that teachers will continue to receive salary increases in the meantime.

Hope for Teachers’ Salary Increase

Before taking over as DepEd Secretary in July, Angara had expressed confidence that teachers’ salaries would see a rise in the coming years. However, he admitted that the exact timeline remains uncertain due to the significant financial requirements.

“There will be a salary increase for teachers, but it’s a matter of when,” Angara said in a previous interview. “I am confident that it will happen, whether this year or next year, but the process is complex and will take time.”

The proposal to increase teachers’ salaries remains a key issue for DepEd and the Senate, as both parties recognize the importance of providing fair compensation to the country’s educators. However, the need for P500 billion to fund the P15,000 across-the-board salary increase presents a significant challenge for the government.

By focusing on these key points—P500 billion for teachers’ salary increase, DepEd’s plans for wage hikes, and the financial challenges of implementing the P15,000 increase—the government continues to weigh its options as it strives to balance competing financial priorities.