Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Saturday honored school teachers as “real superheroes,” pledging to give them more incentives in celebration of National Teachers Month.
“Real superheroes don’t wear capes, they teach,” Estrada said.
It is not enough to praise the good deeds and sacrifices of school teachers, he said, since they need all the support they could get in developing globally minded citizens, nurturing families, strengthening communities and building the nation.
“As long as I am the city mayor, I will work hard to provide all the needs of our dear beloved teachers because they are not in the profession for the income,” he said, acknowledging the crucial role teachers play in shaping the young generation.
During Estrada’s term, the monthly allowance of Manila public school teachers increased from P2,000 to P3,000.
Last April, he distributed computer tablets with installed instructional materials to some 11,000 teachers of Manila to further improve their work.
The mayor also shouldered the expenses for the teachers’ recent leadership training seminars and conventions, which amounted to P1.14 million.
The city governmen has also allocated nearly P2 billion to its Special Educational Fund (SEF) for the construction and renovation of school infrastructure and the procurement of educational equipment and supplies.
Former president Benigno Aquino III has declared September 5 to October 5 as National Teachers Month to honor the teaching profession. October 5 is also World Teachers Day as proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
This year’s National Teachers Month carries the theme, “Guro, Kabalikat sa Pagbabago.”