Help for our teachers

This refers to the editorial “‘Strong’ teachers make a ‘strong’ country” (6/16/19).  Indeed, teachers are inadequately compensated for their labors, or “burdened with onerous debts to both the government and to private lenders — both accredited and on-the-sly.”

Some teachers, public school teachers in particular, because of their measly salaries, go to loan sharks, or borrow from government or private lending institutions like the Government Service Insurance System or rural and thrift banks.

The automatic deductions from these loans and other payments result in the significant reduction of their take-home pay, thus leaving them little for their daily modest living.

In the 16th Congress, former senator Bam Aquino filed Senate Bill No. 2333, which sought to mandate a minimum monthly net take-home pay for all government employees after authorized deductions. The bill did not advance from the committee level.

I hope the incoming 18th Congress will consider this proposal and act on it, as it can greatly help our teachers.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,

Marikina City