An increase in the salaries of teachers might soon be realized despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

“I’m sure mayroon ding pagtaas ng suweldo sa mga guro natin. Mahal ni Tatay Digong ang ating mga guro (I’m sure there will be an increase in the salaries of our teachers. Tatay Digong loves our teachers),” he said during the “Ask Me Anything, Anywhere” segment aired on his Facebook page on Saturday.

Duterte, in several speeches, said teachers are very important to him because his late mother Soledad was also a teacher.

Andanar said he will ask Education Secretary Leonor Briones for updates regarding plans to raise teachers’ pay.

In March 2021, Duterte said the Covid-19 pandemic foiled his plan to increase the salary of teachers.

He, however, said he is “saving” funds so he could finally give the salary hike that teachers deserve.

Earlier, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers renewed its call for salary increases, saying their families are suffering from rising costs of fuel that also cause spikes in the cost of goods and other services.

The education sector obtained the largest increase in the approved 2022 national budget with PHP788.5 billion.

The 2022 budget is expected to help various reforms and initiatives for the country’s education sector amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA)