A teachers' organization on Tuesday urged Congress to pass a pending bill declaring October 5 of every year as a special working holiday in consonance with UNESCO’s declaration of the date as World Teachers' Day.

Benjo Basas, a Caloocan City-based teacher and chairperson of Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said passing the bill before October 2009 will be a fitting tribute to teachers, considered as frontline workers of the education sector in the country.

UNESCO declared October 5 as World Teachers' Day in commemoration and recognition of the signing of the "Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers" document on October 5, 1966 by the Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers.

Basas said the document is by far the single most important universally accepted document which recognizes the teachers’ role and importance in the society.

Basas said the Philippines is one of the signatories to the document and therefore duty-bound to put the spirit of UNESCO declaration in practice.

“Declaring October 5 as national teachers' day is not just about a rest or incentive day for us, but a morale booster, a state recognition of the importance of teachers’ contribution in society,” he said.

“If there is a state commemoration on the heroes of the past, why should not we honor the unsung heroes of our nation’s everyday battle against ignorance?” Basas said.

The pending Senate Bill 3189 authored by Senator Alan Cayetano declaring October 5 as a special working holiday also mandates all establishments to give 20 percent discount in products and services to teachers during the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of October.