Surigao Norte gov increases pay of local teachers

By Eugenio Lira Jr.

Monday 11th of June 2012

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, June 11 (PIA) -- Governor Sol Matugas recently ordered a second-round increase on mentors’ honorarium that will benefit 172 elementary and secondary volunteer-educators in the province.

In an interview, Matugas said the school board teachers will receive a monthly honorarium of P7,000 effective June this year – or an increase of P1,000 from its current pay of P6,000 per month.

“The pay increase which takes effect beginning this school year, although minimal, can help alleviate the plight of our local teachers vis-à-vis our present economic condition,” Matugas said.

A retired DepEd regional director prior to her election as provincial governor in 2010, Matugas earned the appreciation of the education community when, shortly after she assumed office, she ordered an increase in the honorarium of local school board teachers which doubled up their monthly take from P3,000 to P6,000 and provided for an annual ‘chalk allowance’ of P1,000.

Banking on her previous credential as one of the noted educators in the country, Matugas made waves in the local scene with an education program, which saw a dramatic increase in the number of school board teachers from only 88 in 2010 to 172 at the present, budget increase in the local school board fund from P4 million to P8.6 million, intensification of professional trainings for school administrators and public school teachers, integration of ‘day care centers’ into mainstream elementary schools, establishment of secondary schools in far-flung areas, establishment of school libraries in Siargao and Surigao del Norte DepEd Divisions, and college scholarships for deserving poor students, among others.

She also lobbied before the Secretary of Education for the allocation of additional teacher-positions or ‘teaching items’ in the province. (RER/FEA/Eugenio Lira Jr./PIA 13,Surigao del Norte)