Senator Risa Hontiveros urged on Friday the passing of two proposed bills, granting a P15,000 salary increase for public school teachers and providing medical discounts.

In line with the observance of National Teachers’ Month, Hontiveros has called for the passage of the "Dagdag Sahod for Public Basic Education Teachers and Employees Act" (Senate Bill 211), which aims to boost the salaries of all public school teachers and education personnel by P15,000.

Under the Senate Bill (SB) 211, all public school teachers and personnel will receive a P15,000 salary increase, to be distributed in three tranches: a PHP 6,000 raise in the first year, followed by PHP 5,000 in the second year, and PHP 4,000 in the third year.

She is also pushing the "Healthy Buhay at Hanapbuhay Para sa Guro Act" (Senate Bill 575), aimed at improving the salaries and benefits of both teaching and non-teaching personnel. The purpose of this bill is to provide a 10% discount and Value-added tax (VAT) exemption on medicines and other necessary health products, along with other health benefits.

Under the Senate Bill 575, it will provide the establishment of health centers for teachers, dedicated wards in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, government-funded contributions to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and medical assistance from the DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Education (DepEd). It also includes five days of annual mental health and wellness leave for teachers.

“Ang mga guro natin, araw-araw nagbubuhos ng oras, pagod, at pagmamahal para sa ating kabataan. Kaya bilang pasasalamat sa kanila, gusto kong mabigyan sila ng umento sa sahod para naman mas guminhawa ang buhay nila,” said Hontiveros in her Facebook page.