In her speech at the centenary of the Pampanga High School in San Fernando City, Pampanga, Mrs. Arroyo reiterated her support for the third phase of the Salary Standardization Law to grant a series of pay increases to 1.2 million government workers.

The bill that would implement the third phase of the law was certified as urgent by Mrs. Arroyo last year but did not pass Congress despite the endorsement.

"Teachers are included in the salary increase provided in our administration bill for a new third round of salary standardization. Let’s ask our Kapangpangan congressmen to author the bill," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said the 10 percent increase is an overdue reward for government employees who "work tirelessly to serve the country."

In January 2007, Mrs. Arroyo endorsed as urgent the bill to implement the third phase of the Salary Standardization Law which is expected to gradually put the salaries of government workers at par with the salaries of workers in the private sector.

The bill, however, was not passed.

Government workers instead received an average of 10 percent increase in salaries, funded by record high revenues earned from the Expanded Value-Added Tax.