Additional benefits for teachers sought

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the Aquino government to increase the compensation and benefits of Filipino teachers to discourage them from having to risk their lives seeking for high-paying jobs even in conflict-torn cities in the Middle East.

Cayetano made the call as the world observed Wednesday the World Teacher’s Day.

The senate minority leader said the country has seen the exodus of Filipino teachers in the last 10 years to work as domestic helpers in Hong Kong or as caregivers in Canada and London.

But the situation now seems to be worse as he bared reports that some teachers are among those caught in the middle of conflict-stricken nations in the Middle East.

Reportedly, teachers are among those crossing borders of Tunisia and Egypt “risking their lives for high-paying jobs in strife torn” Libya.

“The reason why we are having a hard time protecting our countrymen abroad is because we lack the necessary initiatives to keep them here in our country and protect their rights to adequate livelihood opportunities and just compensation,” Cayetano said.

According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), there are at least 59 teachers now bound for Libya after they were able to seek working visas in Tunisia and Egypt.(Hannah L. Torregoza)

Source: Tempo

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