President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(ALBERTO ALCAIN/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Duterte made the statement as he led the simultaneous inauguration of school buildings in Valenzuela City on Thursday, March 4.
In his speech, President Duterte said teachers are very important to him because his mother Soledad was a teacher all her life.
He added that he was saving funds so he can finally give the much-awaited salary hike that teachers deserve.
“Nag-iipon na po ako sa totoo lang kasi sabi ko next ang teacher. Totoo ho iyan. Nandiyan si [Education] Secretary [Leonor] Briones (I was saving up because I said the teachers are next to get the salary increase. That’s the truth. You can ask Secretary Briones),” he said.