DAVAO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte said he hopes the year-end incentive he signed recently would give “a little bit of happiness” to the country’s educators during the holiday season, noting teaching personnel deserve to receive an incentive for their hard work.
On Monday, December 27, the President signed Administrative Order (AO) 45, a measure granting one-time service recognition incentive (SRI) not more than P10,000 to eligible workers of government.
“So I hope that ma-download ito kaagad at least New Year, para bagong taon mayroon silang hawak na pera. Iyan ang pinahabol ko,” President Duterte said during his weekly Talk to the People.
A group of teachers had previously voiced their request for incentives to former Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo, according to the President.
“Sabi ng mga maestra kay Sal, to convey to me na ang mga teachers raw wala — nakalimutan ko. So sabi ko na tingnan lang natin if there’s any money. I’d like to inform you, ma’am, and the rest of the teachers all over the country that I have signed already the service recognition incentive and gratuity pay for the government sa teachers,” President Duterte told Education Secretary Leonor Briones, who was present during the President’s address.
Briones expressed her gratitude to President Duterte for the measures honoring teachers that were approved under his administration.
Among these measures include the special order granting P910 million worth of awards for educators during Global Teachers’ Day on September, and for endeavoring “to add more steps in the ladder of professions of the teachers” that allows them to “move within ranks” without having to wait for other colleagues to retire.
The education secretary also thanked the President for giving teachers a special hazard pay, increased uniform allowance, among other benefits.
The movement of salary increase of teachers has also been “faster than those of other professions,” she noted.
“However, this has to be according to law. And you have done this several times more than any other president, more than any other administration. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. In their name, thank you,” she said
