Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday acknowledged the burdens and hardships that Filipino teachers are experiencing as she attended the National Teachers' Month kick-off program at the Bohol Wisdom School in Tagbilaran City on Tuesday morning.

The Vice President stressed that the DepEd's MATATAG Agenda is a roadmap to institutionalizing reforms within the agency which includes the protection of rights and the promotion of the teachers' welfare.

She added that interim guidelines will be issued to significantly and immediately reduce the administrative tasks of teachers and they will also have 30 straight days of rest during the school year break without any department activity that requires volunteer work.

Duterte said all activities with voluntary participation will be scheduled after the said 30 days, adding that the DepEd is set to sign memorandum of agreement with the Government Service Insurance System that would provide an exclusive lane that will handle the teachers' concerns.

A website will also be launched soon to provide free legal assistance to teachers regarding their loan contracts.

Duterte also disclosed that the department is also developing an automated system for an objective selection in the hiring and promotion of teachers.

"We will always advocate for teacher benefits as your champions," Duterte said. "Teachers are spark of inspiration in every classroom, the guiding light of countless possibilities and better futures, and the builders of our nation's dreams."

"Teachers have essentially helped build our country. And teachers will always be there as we move forward with our aspirations to see a stable, secure, peaceful, and strong Philippines," she added.