‘Hindi sila exempted sa taas-presyo’ — Bong Go pushes more assistance for teachers amid rising daily costs

As the country marks World Teachers’ Day and the culmination of National Teachers’ Month on Monday, October 5, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his push for additional financial support, better compensation and stronger benefits for Filipino teachers, stressing that educators also bear the increasing cost of food, transportation, utilities and other everyday necessities.

National Teachers’ Month is observed annually from September 5 to October 5, culminating on World Teachers’ Day. For 2026, the Department of Education adopted the theme “Teacher, Ikaw Naman,” recognizing educators who have spent years giving their time, knowledge and care to Filipino learners.

Go said recognition for teachers should also translate into concrete government support for their economic welfare.

“Hindi po madali ang trabaho ng isang guro... kaya sa abot ng aking makakaya, patuloy ko rin pong isusulong ang pagbibigay ng mas mataas na sweldo, benepisyo, at incentives sa mga guro,” Go earlier said.

The senator stressed that teachers are not insulated from the same economic pressures confronting other Filipino families.

The latest available Philippine Statistics Authority data showed national headline inflation at 6.1% in August 2026. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, and transportation were the three largest contributors to overall inflation during the month. Inflation among households belonging to the bottom 30% income group stood at 8.2%.

For Go, rising household expenses strengthen the case for sustained assistance to teachers, particularly those who also spend part of their own salaries on materials needed in the classroom.

“Malaki ang aking pasasalamat sa mga teachers. Hindi ako magiging senador kung hindi ako natuto noon. Dumaan ako sa mga guro na mga mababait, nagmamalasakit sa kabataan at patuloy na nagseserbisyo sa bayan kung kaya’t may natutunan ako,” he said.

“Maraming salamat sa inyong pagserbisyo,” he added.

In the 20th Congress, Go filed Senate Bill No. 410, or the proposed Across-the-Board Monthly Allowance for All Basic Education Teachers Act of 2025, which seeks to provide an additional monthly allowance to public teaching and non-teaching personnel engaged in basic education. The proposed allowance would be on top of existing salaries and benefits.

The measure covers nationally and locally funded teaching and non-teaching personnel in public basic education, including those involved in alternative and distance learning systems. Under the bill, the additional allowance would also be considered part of basic salary for purposes of computing retirement pay and bonuses and would not prevent future increases in employees’ basic pay.

Go said the measure responds to the reality that many teachers continue to spend their personal money for classroom requirements while handling demanding workloads.

“Teachers experience hardships, to which they often use their personal funds for buying classroom supplies and staying beyond work hours to assist the students,” the explanatory portion of his measure states.

Go was also a co-author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11997, or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which institutionalized the teaching allowance for public school teachers. Under the law, the annual allowance increased to ₱10,000 per teacher beginning School Year 2025-2026 and will remain at that level thereafter unless subsequently adjusted. The allowance is tax-exempt and may be used for teaching supplies, materials and incidental expenses related to learning delivery.

Go earlier described the enactment of the law as part of continuing efforts to ease the expenses teachers shoulder in performing their duties.

“With the enactment of the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, we are taking a crucial step toward empowering our teachers and enriching our educational system,” he said.

Beyond teaching-specific allowances, Go has also pushed for higher compensation for civilian government personnel. In the previous Congress, he filed the proposed Salary Standardization Law VI seeking further salary adjustments for government employees amid higher living costs. Go was also an author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 11466, or Salary Standardization Law V.

“Mahalaga na patuloy nating binibigyang pansin at itinataas ang sahod ng ating mga ordinaryong lingkod-bayan. Sila ang pundasyon ng ating gobyerno, walang pagod na naglilingkod para sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go said in pushing the measure.

Go emphasized that assistance for teachers ultimately supports the quality of education received by Filipino children, since teachers are better able to concentrate on their profession when they are given adequate compensation and resources.

“The impact of a teacher extends far beyond the classroom, making them indispensable to the holistic development of each learner and, by extension, to the progress of the nation,” Go said.

“Legislating salary increases affirms the state's commitment to investing in its teachers, the backbone of the education system and key drivers of the country's development,” he added.

As National Teachers’ Month comes to a close, Go reiterated that expressions of gratitude for educators should be accompanied by sustained policies that address their actual financial and professional needs.

“Ang kabataan ang future leaders at pag-asa ng bayan at edukasyon ang susi sa mas magandang kinabukasan. Edukasyon po ang puhunan natin sa mundong ito kung kaya’t napakahalaga ng papel ng mga guro sa paghubog sa susunod na henerasyon,” Go said.

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