THE Department of Education (DepEd) has vowed to provide housing to public school teachers who could not afford to build or own their houses despite putting in many years of hard work.

During the awarding of housing certificates on Monday, Education Secretary Armin Luistro assured public school teachers at Jenny’s Avenue in Brgy. Maybunga in Pasig City that the agency will provide at least 100 housing units to them.

According to Luistro, it is one of the ways that the department could show how grateful they are for the sacrifices of teachers, especially those in far-flung areas of the country who are risking their lives in the performance of their duties.

The construction of the five-story, 100 unit-medium rise building was an initiative of the city government of Pasig and the education department.

For his part, Mayor Robert Eusebio of Pasig City said that the program aims to provide affordable homes to low-income earners including public school teachers.

“This is one way to give back to our teachers for the sacrifice they have done despite the hardship they encounter in their profession,” Eusebio said.

Last month, Rep. Maria Theresa Bonoan-David of Manila filed House Bill 6325, which aims to create a housing program for public school teachers as she cited a study claiming that more than 90,000 public school teachers out of the more than 540,000 in the country today have no capacity to own houses.

Luistro welcome’s the bill and said that they are very much open to such programs that promote the welfare of teachers.

“We are pushing for programs and partnerships that will really give our teachers their own homes,” the DepEd chief said, adding that they are in constant talk with the Pag-Ibig Fund to provide housing loans for teachers.