Teacher leaders of Region VIII attends the TDC 1st National Convention

Teacher-leaders of Region VIII (Eastern Visayas, Philippines) had attended the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) 1st National Convention held on October 3-5, 2009 at the historic Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

In the opening day of the convention, participants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao listen to Professor Rene C. Romero on his speech: “Challenges to a National Teachers Organization”. Prof. Romero of Philippine Normal University has been advancing teachers rights, welfare, and a dignified salary since the hard days of martial law years until he get old. He shared his experiences to the participants, and throw a challenge to always lift the dignity of the teaching profession.

A soft-spoken DepEd Sec. Jesli Lapus, a keynote speaker of the convention, shared his vision of education for Philippine setting. He also shared his experiences learned with his meeting with the Ministers of Education of the United Nations. His classroom visits to electronically advance countries like Finland and Netherlands---how it will be applied in the Philippines. He further shared views on the UNESCO’s Education for All (EFA) Program, which is a means to eradicate social ills particularly terrorism which the world is confronted now, he said.

Teachers consider Sec. Lapus as one of the best secretaries DepEd has ever had. He is a “hands-on” manager. He listens and understands the plight of teachers in the field. This has been proven by the TDC national council leaders who have been conducting dialogues with him. Issues like: implementation of six (6) hours actual teaching load, the proposed Php 9,000 salary increase were laid down by the group.

Sec. Lapus addressed these issues properly, for which reason the Civil Service Commission (CSC) promulgated Resolution No. 080096, which says: “The Commission FURTHER RESOLVES that the remaining two (2) hours work that complete the public school teachers’ required 8-hour work day may be spent within or outside the school premises, provided that the Secretary of Education shall provide pertinent guidelines therein.”

Consequently, Sec. Lapus issued DepEd Memorandum No. 291, s. 2008 and DepEd Order No. 16, 2009, s. 2009 relative to the implementation of six hours actual working hours and the remaining two (2) hours may be spent inside or outside of the school premises. It is worthy to mention that concretizing this provision in RA 4670, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers happens only during his stewardship.

Meanwhile, Senator Allan Peter Cayetano and Representative TG Guingona Jr. discussed to the participants about the rationale of Salary Upgrading and the Teachers Right to Just and Dignified Compensation. So far, to justify their end, Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano and House Representative TG Guingona, have defended and fight in the floors of Congress teachers’ salary increase.

The national convention is also fortunate to have Representative Jonathan De La Cruz of the ABKD Guro Partylist. He discussed to the participants that teachers rights and welfare is advanced and attended to by their Party in House of Representatives. To show his concern and support with the group, Rep. De La Cruz invited the participants to the House at Batasan Complex, Quezon City, were he delivered his privilege speech on October 5, 2009 --- timely the world is celebrating Teachers Day. He mentioned, among other things, the pouching of Filipino teachers particularly by the United States of America, and other countries in the world, were some of them are maltreated, exploited, not given enough pay as stated in the contract.

Rep. De La Cruz urge Congress to look into the condition of teachers here in our country --- particularly by upgrading their salaries. He further moved Congress to enact laws making October 5 of the year a non-working holiday in celebration of the World Teachers Day.

Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) participants to the Teachers Dignity Coalition 1st national convention are the following:

No. Name of Teachers Division District/School
1 Edilberto U. Sumapig Leyte Juan Tismo NHS Babatngon, Leyte
2 Joel Ranes Leyte Alang-Alang District
3 Marcelino Cañete Leyte Babatngon District
4 Rodrigo C. Fabi, Jr. Leyte Babatngon District
5 Cecilio R. Pantin Leyte Mac Arthur District
6 Lourdes M. Nalda Tacloban Leyte NHS, Tacloban City
7 Nancy Yboa Samar Cat. III Central Elem. School,Catbalogan
8 Alfredo Cabibihan E. Samar Llorente NHS, Llorente, E. Samar
9 Wilma De La Cruz Ormoc City
10 Elicita Ortega Maasin City San Rafael NHS, Maasin City
11 Lunila Dizon S. Leyte Tambis Elem. School, St. Bernard
12 Carmelito Adobas S. Leyte Tambis NHS, St. Bernard