THE Mandaue City Council disapproved a proposal requesting the city mayor to increase the Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) of teachers.
This developed after the sponsor of the proposal submitted it to the wrong committee.
Councilor Demetrio “Jun” Cortes Jr., chairman of the Committee on Education, said they want the sponsors of the resolutions, City Councilors Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon and Beethoven Andaya, to endorse the resolution to the committee on finance.
Andaya, however, refused saying it would be processed faster if the committee on education handles it.
Dizon, for her part, said there was a need to increase the COLA of the teachers especially in the city. Compared with other highly urbanized cities in the province, the teachers’ COLA in Mandaue is low.
“For me the job of our teachers is not easy and that is why I am encouraged to sponsor this resolution. Mandaue City is a highly urbanized city with a P2.7 billion annual budget. Compare that with
Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City who already have P1,500 (COLA). How about us with only a P300 increase?” Dizon said.
The current COLA of teachers in Mandaue City is P700.
Dizon said they wanted the COLA to be increased from P700 to P1,200 or at least P1,000.
Cortes wanted the proposed resolution to be referred to the committee on finance for proper procedure.
“We are not against it. We just have to follow the proper procedure.We know the plight of the teachers. We are not taking them for granted,” he said.