Senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay emphasized the need for the government to invest in the professional development of teachers through continuing education and training programs.

In a statement, Binay said that teachers must be equipped to keep up with the rapid technological changes impacting education. “Siguraduhin nating magaling magturo ang ating mga guro at kaya nilang sumabay sa mabilis na pagbabagong dala ng teknolohiya. Hindi pwedeng mapag-iwanan sila. Pati ang kanilang mga estudyante ay mapag-iiwanan din,” she said.

(“Let’s make sure our teachers are excellent in teaching and are able to keep up with the rapid changes brought about by technology. They cannot be left behind. Their students will be left behind as well.”)

She compared the situation to lawyers, who are required to pursue continuing legal education, and argued that teachers should similarly hone their skills and knowledge to stay up-to-date.

“Ultimately, the quality of education rests on the effectiveness and competence of our teachers. They should be empowered to be excellent educators capable of adapting to technological advancements that are rapidly transforming traditional ways of teaching,” Binay said.

Binay also stressed that the government should subsidize the costs of training programs to avoid burdening teachers financially. “Dapat mag-invest tayo sa professional development ng mga guro at bigyan sila ng sapat na oportunidad para maging mas mahusay na educators,” she added.

(“We should invest in the professional development of teachers and provide them with sufficient opportunities to become better educators.”)

Binay highlighted Makati’s Project TEACH (Teacher Effectiveness and Competence Honing), which allocates between P7 million and P15 million annually from the city’s Special Education Fund to subsidize teacher training.

Starting this year, the city is also offering an Executive Class Diploma program in partnership with St. Paul College of Makati.

In addition to training opportunities, public school teachers in Makati enjoy benefits such as free health services under the Yellow Card program, including medical checkups, laboratory services, hospitalization, and maintenance medicine.

Teachers also receive various monetary incentives, including a P3,000 monthly incentive, a P6,000 year-end bonus, and monthly allowances ranging from P2,500 to P5,000 for specific teaching roles.

Binay said she intends to implement these programs at the national level to improve the quality of education across the country.